The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has projected that Nigeria will lose $8.55 billion by 2025 if the gender gap in the labour force is not bridged.
This is even as the executive director, Kimpact Development Initiative, Bukola Idowu, has called on government and relevant stakeholders to bridge the gender in the workforce, to reverse the trend.
Idowu, who made the call at a one-day gender-sensitive reporting workshop for media personnel in Lagos, averred that, women have displayed exemplary leadership traits, adding that the advantages of having women as heads of government will have a ripple effect on the advancement of the country.
“The benefits of women in politics and holding strategic positions in leadership will aid diplomacy and will help in negotiations in cases of conflict, peace, and resolution which can save the nation from spending on conflicts and combating crimes and terrorism in Nigeria, “ he averred.
With this in mind, Idowu lamented the reduction in the rate of women vying for political positions, even as he disclosed that, out of a total number of 15,303 politicians that contested in the 2023 general election, only 1557 were females, with only 75 of them wining the positions they vied for.
“From 1999 to 2023, 307 female lawmakers have been elected into the State House of Assembly across the 36 states of the Nation. While in the House of Representatives, a total of 135 females have been in the legislative chamber of the lawmaking body. “This explains why only 30 women-related bills have been passed since the return to democracy in 1999,” he disclosed.
The ED, however, tasked the newly elected lawmakers to pass into law, the bills that address the issue of gender equality and equity and also help lift the living standard of women and children to enhance better health services.
“These bills are solely not gender-based target, as they aimed at impacting the health systems, reducing child mortality rate, improve reproductive health services, adolescent health, food and nutrition, child health, drug and food, hygiene and safety, among others” he averred.
In his remarks, media expert, Lekan Otufodurin harped on the positive portrayal of women in politics with a balance and vivid approach to gender-sensitive reports without stereotyping the women folks, while urging journalists to avoid negative portrayals of women which could lead to misinformation and disinformation.
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