By Philip Yatai

The Christian Aid Nigeria on Monday mobilised relevant stakeholders to open more spaces for women in Kaduna State to actively participate in governance and politics.

Mr Temitope Fashola, Head of Programmes, Christian Aid Nigeria, said in Kaduna at the opening of an event organised as part of activities to commemorate the 2021 International Women’s Day.

The event was organised by Christian Aid in partnership with Aid Foundation, Hope for Communities and Children Initiative (H4CC) and Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LEADS-Nigeria).

It was organised under the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Evidence and Collaboration for Inclusive Development project.

Fashola noted that the state government had done very well in the appointment of women in leadership positions.

He however noted that in spite of the appointment of  reasonable number of women in government, only one woman was elected in the state House of Assembly.

“It is good that we have started, but one elected woman in the Assembly is not good enough, we can do better for the development of our homes, our communities and our dear state.

“We can start by putting critical policies in place, provide the needed environment for women to thrive and create spaces for them in political parties to vote and be voted for as a right,” he said.

Fashola urged relevant stakeholders to work with the government to sustain the gains being recorded in women empowerment in the state.

He said that young girls in communities were looking forward to becoming better in the future and needed all the support and spaces they could get from everyone to succeed.

Fashola said that girls must be provided with the needed space to access quality education, adding that efforts must be made to challenge the gender stereotype affecting them.

“We must work together to challenge the stereotypes that limit girls and women ability to achieve their full potential particularly denying them education or exposing them to child marriage,” he said.

He said that the event tagged, “Addressing Barriers that Limit Women’s Participation in Leadership” was specifically designed to celebrate the achievements of women in line with the 2021 theme, “Chose to Challenge.”

According to him, the event is also to challenge stereotypes and status quo that serve as barriers and limit women from moving forward to reach their full potentials.

“Today we are celebrating not only the gains but challenging the present and the future, so that together we can work in solidarity, and seek for better outcomes for women, for the development of our country,” he said.

He called on duty bearers and relevant stakeholders in the state to challenge the status quo around gender stereotypes in the country.

The Executive Director, Aid Foundation, Mr Emmanuel Bonet, also scored Kaduna state government fair in terms of opening spaces for women to participate in leadership roles.

Bonet, however, said that the gap needed to be filled by the citizens who need to increase their knowledge about what women can do.

“And how to support them, particularly in gaining electoral positions in the state.

“So, today, as part of our commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day, we are challenging everyone in the state to increase spaces for women to participate in politics and in leadership positions,” he said.

On her part, the Executive Director, H4CC, Mrs Hadiza Umar, said that women should learn to open spaces and doors for their girls right from the home.

“As women, we always say we have barriers and blame it on the men, but we forget that as mothers we raise the boys and the girls.

“So, we should start by telling the girls that they can grow to become whoever they aspire to be.

“We should also tell our boys to make room for their sisters and women around them because they also have something to offer.

“We should not stand and be knocking on doors. You do not have to wait for anyone to open the door for you or your girl child. If you know how to open the door, open the door and get in,” she said.