Do not stand by and bellyache about men running the country and relegating women to the background. Participate more in politics and governance.

That was the message the programme manager of Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) Mr. Nelson Amanze sent to women in Plateau State.

Amanze was speaking at a forum in Jos, the state capital, meant to sensitise women ahead of the local government election in the state scheduled for February next year.

Amanze said, “The participation of women in politics of the state is one of the lowest in the country, but there is a major opportunity now that the local government election is around the corner. This is why the NGO has come up with a programme known as “Strengthening Citizens Engagement in Electoral Processes in Nigeria (SCEEP)” through which we sensitise and encourage women, youths and persons with disability to increase their participation in the electoral processes.”

In her remarks, the member representing Pankshin North in Plateau state House of Assembly, Hon. Alice Dimlong said, “It is an unfortunate development that women’s participation in politics in the state is on the decline. There used to be two or three female members in the state House of Assembly, but now I am the only female member in the House.

Hon Dimlong said, “That is why I find this programme so important for the future of women in the state; our women need to pick up the courage and face the challenges or they will be relegated to the background of politics.”

She used the opportunity to encourage Plateau women to break out of the cultural and religious barriers placed on their ways by men, come out and contest the council election in the state.

The Plateau State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Bulus Dabit urged women in the state to always join politics, starting with  registering as members of a political party.

He said, “Most women lost out during election because they are not party members from the beginning”.

Organiser of the seminar, Mr. Amanze said the campaign for increased participation of citizens in electoral processes will also engage political parties, electoral commissions, security agencies and other stakeholders for the pourpose of increasing opportunity for women in the upcoming council election in the state.

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‘Plateau women should play more roles in governance’