2023: Presidential Candidates commit to inclusive and equitable government

Over 500 women groups have converged at the 6th edition of Voice of
Women Conference and Awards held today Tuesday 25 October 2022 at the NAF Conference Centre Abuja. VOW2022 with the theme Towards Rebuilding Nigeria: An Agenda Setting for an inclusive and accountable Nigeria was geared towards ensuring inclusivity and empowering women to decide Nigeria’s next President.

Invitation letters were sent to all Presidential candidates and some Presidential Candidates present at VOW2022, Adewole Adebayo (SDP) Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP) Peter Obi (LP) Hamza Al-Mustapha (AA), Dumebi Kachikwu(ADC)
Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC) represented by the Vice Presidential candidate Kasshim Shettima, they stated their commitment to Women while highlighting their antecedents on how inclusive their cabinets and organisations have been and how they intend to replicate the same at the National level.

The First Lady of Nigeria, Aisha Mohammed Buhari duly represented by Dr Rukayyatu Abdulkareem Gurin the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs in the Office of the First Lady encouraged women to exercise their civic responsibility in the coming election while reiterating the commitment of the Buhari administration to violence-free elections. She commended Women Radio 91.7 and the Voice Of Women Foundation for consistently pushing the Woman Agenda and advancing women’s courses across all areas of life.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K.Tallen urged Nigerian women to demand equity in governance based on their numerical strength and make their vote counts while she advised them to support female candidates at all level in the election. Tallen called on the presidential candidates to back their words with actions when elected.

Beatrice Eyong, UNWomen Country Representative to Nigeria represented Patience Ekeoba, Patience Ekeoba, the National Programme Officer of UNWomen
emphasized the need for gender inclusion to be adequately considered for Nigeria to make progress in Poverty reduction and bridge the leadership gaps.

The Federal Government was charged to pass the GEO Bill and support the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act across the country, this charge was given by Saudatu Mahdi, Secretary General, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA). Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, executive director of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center presented the Womanifesto Charter of Demands to the presidential candidates stating the demands of Nigerian Women from the Candidates when elected into 2023.

VOW 2022 is an initiative of Women Radio 91.7 in partnership with Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and supported by Macarthur Foundation and other partners