A coordinating body for Non-Governmental
Organisations (NGO) in the South-West zone of the country, Women
Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) over the weekend embarked on civic
education campaign to mobilise women in Ogun State ahead of the
forthcoming elections. The campaign was hinged on the need for the
women to ensure they all get registered in the ongoing voter
registration before it comes to an end.
The campaign took place in various markets in
Abeokuta, the state capital with hundreds of market women in
attendance. The open air outreach gave room for the participants to
exchange ideas and ask questions. The guest speakers provided answers
for questions asked. Also in attendance were officials of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Addressing the
gathering, Executive Director of WOCON, Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi said the
civic education is borne out of the need to mobilise and sensitise
women on their rights as citizens and how to exercise their electoral
mandate so that they can be active participants in the 2011 elections
and the choosing of their leaders. She noted that in previous
elections, there have been cases of voter apathy among women. “In the
absence of proper voter education, the situation is likely to be worse
for women to be voted for. In 2007 in Ogun State, among 15 top
political parties that participated in the elections, there were a
total of 222 candidates of which only 31 women and the remaining 191
men. This time around, we have not been able to get 20 women as
candidates in the parties. This means that the chances of women have
further dwindled than in the past elections. I make bold to say that
the stunted growth in this country is as a result of the failure to
utilise the immeasurable resource that women can bring to the
development of the nations. The campaign organised by the NGO was in
partnership with The International Republican Institute; a United
States Organisation.
