There is no going back in efforts to actualize the set objectives of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill which was recently rejected at the Senate, some gender activists have vowed.
They restated their commitment to re-introduce the bill in no distant time, arguing that the level of women participation and representation in the affairs of the country flies in the face of participatory democracy.
The activists spoke at a leadership training for female students drawn from four tertiary institutions organized by the Women Advocacy Research and Development Centre (WARDC).
Guest speaker at the session, Mrs. Comfort Idika-Ogunye described the rejection of the bill as shocking. She said, “One of the shockers Nigerian women have received recently was the rejection of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill. However, we are not discouraged.”
The Executive Director, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi stressed the need for women to develop their ability and skills so that they could be competitive and qualified for governance and leadership position.
In attendance were students from Lagos State Polytechnic; The Polytechnic, Ibadan; Yaba Technical College of Education and Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (ACOED).