MAMA Centre congratulates Biden, Harris, calls for gender-inclusive politics in Africa

The Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre) has congratulated the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States of America, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their victory from the recent concluded elections.

The Executive Director, MAMA Centre, Chioma Kanu, said on Sunday in a statement that from the electoral process, the spirited determination of American people informed by undiluted patriotism to uphold core democratic principles and values, while demonstrating to the world, their increasing priority for social justice and gender equality.

She said the centre also saw laudable selection of a woman of colour as a running mate and subsequently first women Vice President-elect by the President-elect, as a demonstrated leadership capacity with renowned competence as well as genuine understanding of all-inclusiveness in the manifestation of people-oriented impact.

“While we commend the courageous moment in American democratic history, we find it worthy of emulation as we call on political leaders across Africa and particularly Nigeria to follow suit in delivering of long-waited inclusive and participatory governance through full implementation of enabling policy in fulfilment of various declarations supporting women’s participation in appointive and elective positions.

“The recent development in United States of America’s politics, has validated our most-reiterated position that gender equality is an imperative for progress on socio-economic emancipation and development in societies across the world,” Kanu said.

She said that in Nigeria, women constitute more than half of the population in most states, having their own right with potential, wisdom, talents and skill that they can contribute to develop the country in political and socio-economic spheres.

She expressed worry over the existing glaring gender gaps in political structures and processes including low numbers of women in political party decision making structures; limited involvement of women in household, community and political spheres; unclear rules and procedures on recruitment and conduct of primaries.

She said that the centre was disturbed that despite all efforts to secure equal opportunity and development advancement for all Nigerian citizens irrespective of gender through the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, the legislative framework has continued to witness deliberate setback in the National Assembly.

She said, “We therefore call for the increased priority for the passage and assent into the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill by the National Assembly to demonstrate the legislature’s concern for the rights of women to equal opportunities with guaranteed appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life.”