Women call for accountability as antidote for leadership and good governance

The wife of the Ekiti State governor, Chief (Mrs) Bisi Fayemi, has called for the immediate implementation of the National Gender Policy, adding that if the policy is implemented and domesticated in all states of the federation, women would have a tool to hold the government accountable.

She made the call at the third edition of the Voice of the Women (VOW) Conference and Awards 2018 held recently at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja. Speaking further, she said: “Patriarchy is women’s worst enemy as it controls the political, economic, social, technological and religious expanse and makes women second class citizens.”

Also speaking at the event, the senior programme officer, MacArthur Foundation, says accountability demands leadership and must begin from everyone, while charging Nigerian women to be angered and have desires to make something better out of bad situations.

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NWTF, Mufuliat Fijabi charged Nigerians to inculcate a system of accountability in which everyone will fall into and demand for better governance. Fijabi decried the way lack of accountability affect the nation’s reputation in the international communities.

In the same vein, the first lady of Niger State, Amina Abubakar Bello, called for women to be more thorough and committed, bearing in mind that there are two important needs that should be met which are social and psychological. Bello said it is not right for society to task women more, rather a level opportunity should be afforded.

The National president, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson, said the theme “Women beyond barriers” speaks to women in different ways ranging from a call to action for better future, to a reminder that women have the power to break through all cultural and socio-economic barriers as well as an opportunity to reaffirm the increasing number of women globally breaking barriers.

The CEO of women radio(91.7), Toun Okewale Sonaiya, said the voice of women conference has become a high level advocacy platform which brings together leaders and serving as nexus for the intersectionality of public, private and social sector in the advancement of an agenda that empowers women and their families.