Gender equality has been a topic of discussion for decades now, and yet, progress still seems to be slow. It is time to push for real change in the way we approach this issue. Stakeholders from various sectors of society are calling for reforms to enhance gender equality, and these efforts are gaining momentum as more people recognize the need for action. In this article, we will explore the key reforms being proposed, the challenges that lie ahead, and the potential benefits of achieving greater gender equality.
Stakeholders at the symposium organized by the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE) in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, have called for an overhaul of the constitution to change the way Nigeria’s society sees women. The theme of the event was “Breaking the Ceiling: Gender Mainstreaming, Public Policy and the Promotion of Gender Justice in Nigeria.” The symposium sought to find ways to promote gender mainstreaming in all areas of public life.
The event had a total of forty participants drawn from the public sector, private sector and civil society. The Lead presenter, Msanre Shasore, the Senior Special Assistant on Coordination & Planning, Office of Vice President of Nigeria, presented a paper titled “Gender Mainstreaming, Public Policy and the Promotion of Gender Justice.” She emphasized the need for enforceable legislation to promote gender equality. She stated that until such legislation is put in place to close the gender gaps, the issue of gender equality will continue to be a challenge. According to Shasore, “until there’s enforceable legislation that is gender-responsive in terms of their leadership structure as well as policies and practices, women may remain limited. So any legislation that doesn’t support gender equality should not be passed into law.”
Chris Ngwodo, the Director-General of the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism, in his welcome address, stated that gender injustice is a human security vulnerability and gender equity is a crucial component of national resilience. He noted that Nigeria still has many invisible obstacles that impede the full realization of women’s political rights. For this reason, Nigeria’s National Security Strategy recognizes the importance of fostering the collective vitality of society. “Nigeria recognizes that development is endangered if it is not engendered. Therefore, gender sensitivity and security will be mainstreamed into public policy to create opportunities for the advancement of women’s and children’s rights, as well as gender equality,” he assured.
Ngwodo also stated that it is essential to involve women as agents of development to ensure social inclusion, sustainable peace, and security for all segments of society. The Strategy further sets specific goals such as influencing public policy through advocacy regarding new policies and laws on gender and related issues, promoting equal career opportunities for women and men, guaranteeing equal pay for equal work, creating equality of access for women and men to political representation, and participation.
Uduak Abasi-Akpabio, who represented the German Embassy, expressed frustration about the low number of women elected in the last Nigerian elections. She stressed that the importance of having women included in policy and politics cannot be overemphasized. Without women’s involvement, the country’s development will stall.
Yetunde Adegoke, the National Coordinator at the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), called for mentoring and spousal support for young women participating in gender dialogue and leadership roles in committees, irrespective of cultural barriers. Esther Daramola of the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate stressed the need for a gender-equitable education system and the inclusion of subjects that promote equal access and opportunities to information in the school’s curriculum, especially in the early years of learning.
In conclusion, the symposium emphasized the need for a change in the way Nigeria’s society perceives women, the adoption and enforcement of gender-responsive legislation, women’s involvement in policymaking and political representation, and the provision of equal career opportunities for both women and men. The symposium also highlighted the need for strategic partnerships and coalitions to advocate and drive policy implementation, sustain gender dialogue and leadership mentorship efforts, and provide gender-equitable education for all.
