35% affirmative action: NCWS commends Jonathan

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), has commended the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for appointing women in his cabinet representing 31 per cent out of the 35 per cent affirmative action.

The society also berated some state governments for their failure to implement the agitation that more women should be given opportunity to serve in various political offices as part of their contribution to the development of the nation.

The National President of NCWS, Chief (Mrs) Nkechi Mba, said this in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune during the visit of some members of the society in the South- West to the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo, in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State.

Mba commended President Jonathan for giving the womenfolk more portfolios in fulfilment of his electoral promise that more women would be given the chance to serve their fatherland.

The NCWS president, who was accompanied by the first National Vice President, Chief (Mrs) Gloria Laraba Shoda, the state president, Chief (Mrs) Anthonia Fisan-Balogun and other members from the South-West states said many state governments were defaulting in the implementation of the 35 per cent women representation in government.

On her plans for NCWS, Mba promised to serve Nigerian women and work with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, in ensuring that the womenfolk take their pride of place in the scheme of things in the country.

“I have come to rescue and serve the women of Nigeria and then, move NCWS forward. I have a lot of plans for the council. I promise that the 35 per cent we are looking for will be attained. Women have the capacity to lead and perform well in any assignments given to them.

“By the grace of God, we will work with the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who is the grand patron of NCWS, to make sure we get our 35 percent representation. Mr President has given us 31 per cent, for which we are grateful, but we still have to work hard to get the 35 per cent,” she added.

The new president of NCWS, while extolling the virtues of Mama Awolowo, promised to carry her along in the society’s activities and assured members in the South-West that they would not be marginalised.

Mrs Shoda, in her address, charged government at all levels to further empower women with leadership positions and create enabling environment and equal opportunities for women socially, economically and politically.

“Women have proved beyond every doubt that they are good managers of human, material and financial resources. The performance of the few who are opportune to hold public offices is a testimony to this fact. We put in more efforts than men to ensure a better life for the masses but unfortunately, the potentials of the Nigerian women have not been fully explored,” she added.

The host, in her remarks, commended the leadership of the society for keeping the flag flying 50 years after its establishment.

Mama promised to intervene in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the association as soon as possible.

She said, “when this association was started about 50 years ago, we didn’t know that it will become a great association today. We have left everything over 40 years ago but you people have taken it up and you are doing well. You should push forward and be steadfast. I wish you goodluck”