In its bid to ensure women’s participation in the electoral process, a non-governmental organisation, the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED) has enjoined Nigerian women to ensure participation in politics and community issues.
Speaking at an empowerment workshop at Ikorodu, Lagos State recently, Executive Director of the organization, Mrs. Adekemi Adeyeye encouraged women to overcome whatever barrier the society has placed before them and ensure adequate participation in the electoral process.
The programme also featured several presentations including voter education and vocational training for women participants in the grassroots communities.
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“We are talking about empowerment for women and girls, we at HUFFPED have been in the race for a very long time and we have a lot of success stories about it. We have been using the citizens and association methodology which is really working for us and is teaching our women and girls the saving culture,” Adeyeye said.
She explained further on the loan facility the organisation uses in assisting women in the grassroots.
“We also use revolving loan which makes the little money we have to go round everybody and everybody becomes everybody’s monitor and the next person to receive the money already knows and it also curbs women’s excesses on spending money on things that are not really necessary,” she explained.
She added that when a woman has her own means of livelihood and can contribute her own quota to the family, she begins to have a voice unlike when she does not have anything to fall back on and she would be able to say no to anything she does not want.
Wife of the Baale of Majidun-Awori, Mrs. Solomon Susan was particularly worried about domestic violence which is becoming rampant in the community.
“What I understand is that gender based violence is rampant in our community. We have men that beat their wives. Some of these women are even breadwinners but when their husbands demand for money and they don’t have to give them, they start beating them as if they are noting or as if they have not been giving them money before,” she lamented.
The event, carried out in conjunction with Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP), had the support of ActionAid Nigeria. It was funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project and held in Majidun and Ebute communities in Ikorodu, Lagos recently.