The need for more women to be included in leadership and decision-making bodies has again been canvassed.
The founder, Rubies Development Foundation, Lillian Akpet, made the call in Abuja while speaking at an event to mark the 2024 International Women‘s Day.
Akpet said quality representation of women at all levels of governance will enhance their participation in decision making on developmental issues that affect them.
„For our world to be impacted positively and to enjoy the development we all crave for, women who actually form half of the world‘s population, should be adequately carried along, including those living with disabilities.
“Over time decisions are taken about women without taking their rights and feelings into consideration: someone decides a woman‘s genital should be mutilated; someone decides she cannot have abortion when she is raped or have health challenges; someone decides when she takes contraceptives or not; someone decides when she gets married whether as a child or an adult and even the day her marriage is being discussed, she does not sit there,” she said.
According to her, these basic things affecting the entire woman‘s life is what the theme of this year‘s International Women‘s Day seeks to address.
She also used the occasion to commend men who are already playing motherly roles and urged all men to mentor and lead their daughters well.
„It is important for men to celebrate the women in their lives and daughters in their spaces. Men should be role models to their daughters so that they can have that confidence that can boost their self-esteem,“ she added.
Akpet further assured of the commitment of the foundation to implement an action plan that would promote inclusiveness for national development.
Speaking earlier, the executive director, Inclusive Voice for Women and Youth Initiative, Okeoghene Akpaeve, emphasised the need for collaboration to mentor girls and women with disabilities and to sensitise them on their sexual and reproductive rights.
