Okei-Odumakin urges appointment of more women as Special Advisers, Heads of Govt. institutions

With only seven women making the ministerial nominees list, the Women Arise for Change Initiative, an NGO, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a higher number of women as Special Advisers and Heads of key institutions.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of the initiative, made the appeal on Wednesday while reacting to the 16 percent female representation on the list sent to the Senate for screening and confirmation on Tuesday.

Okei-Odumakin told the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that such appointments would ensure 35 per cent women’s inclusion in the cabinet.

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The seven women on the ministerial list are: Sharon Ikeazor, Zainab Ahmed, Gbemisola Saraki, Ramatu Tijjani-Aliyu, Sadiya Farouk, Mariam Katagun and Pauline Tallen.

Okei-Odumakin said that such appointments would also address the fundamental issue of gender imbalance in the society.

“While the number of women on that list represents a slight improvement compared to the previous cabinet, it is my opinion that Nigerian women deserve greater representation in government, particularly at such a decision making body like the Federal Executive Council.

“It is therefore, my hope, that the president will make this up by appointing a higher number of women as Special Advisers and head of other key government institutions, to address this very fundamental issue of gender imbalance in our society,’’ she said.

Okei-Odumakin said that the 16 per cent female representation on the list of ministerial nominees was a deadly blow on the UN global gender parity template of 35 per cent affirmative action.

According to her, the 16 per cent women representation is below expectation.

“One would have expected at least a 30 per cent women representation if not 35 per cent as provided in the CEDAW document.

“This is another confirmation of the fact that Nigeria is still far from achieving gender equality,’’ she said. (NAN)