The
feminist group "We Need Leadership" wants more women to get involved
in politics
Women
need leadership and encouragement, according to the Nala Feminist Collective
(NalaFEM), if they are to participate more in politics and government.
The
suggestion was made on Friday at the Sheraton in Abuja during the opening
summit honouring the organization's first anniversary.
Women
and girls from Africa and the diaspora are encouraged, empowered, and mobilised
by NalaFEM, a Pan-African front of feminists.
The
organization's council is made up of 17 female leaders under 40 who are among
the world's youngest ministers, lawmakers, activists, and innovators.
Aya
Chebbi, the originator and first African Union (AU) ambassador on youth, noted
a lack of political will to connect policy and execution and stated that the
summit's purpose is to provide a space of advocacy, mentorship, solidarity, and
partnership.
Adding
that there are flaws in the system that restrict young activists from realising
their full potential, she urged stakeholders to help young ladies who want to
get involved in politics.
The
African Union (AU) is aware of these gaps, according to Fatima Kyari Mohammed,
a permanent observer of the AU at the UN, but the only way to close them is via
persistent campaigning on the part of young activists.
"Everything
you do should be supported by current policies. Now that the chance has
presented itself, civil societies, in particular, must seize it to adopt such
policies, ensure their implementation, and, to the extent possible, hold them
accountable. The only option, he declared, is this.
To
avoid a "waste of energy," she warned against protests without a
backup plan.
Pauline
Tallen, minister of women's affairs and social development, said the ministry
is working to secure social justice for victims of abuse by filling policy
gaps, enhancing institutional capacity, fostering gender-equitable attitudes,
and delivering high-quality services.
She
praised NalaFEM's initiatives to involve women in nation-building and gave the
group the ministry's support.
Young
girls are underrepresented in political leadership, according to Jaha Dukureh,
a council member and the founder of safe hands for girls, in part because of a
lack of mentorship.
She
urged seasoned female politicians to pave the way for younger women to enter
the profession, stating that there can be no female succession without engaged
females.
Beatrice
Eyong, the UN women's representative to Nigeria, praised the group's work and
stated that the UN-supported the intergenerational debate.
"It
pleases me to see young ladies challenging the established quo. It demonstrates
that Africa has hope. We are confident that you will succeed where we were
unable to, and you can be sure of the UN women's unwavering support, she added.
The
collective also released a book with the same name as the topic, "I Am
Nala," which is a collection of seven stories by its council members, each
chapter of which promotes one of the sustainable development goals. The event
was held under the theme "I Am Nala" (SDGs).