She pointed out that it is essential for women to actively participate in politics and governance of the nation for equity, stressing that women in political and governance positions serve as role models for future generations and inspire other women and girls to pursue leadership roles and actively engage in civil life.
Mrs Erundu, who stated this during the meeting of the South-East zone of the coalition in Owerri, the Imo State capital, said the group would raise money to support their members contesting for elective positions, and also provide them with capacity training.
“We will support our own by raising money for them. We will support them by raising a legal team. This is because we need more women decision-makers, which is disproportionately low in Nigeria.
‘’Increasing the number of women in decision-making roles is essential for creating more inclusive and representative systems of governance.
‘’Women in politics often prioritise issues that directly impact women and marginalised communities, such as healthcare, education, childcare, and economic empowerment,’’ she noted.
Mrs Erundu added, ‘’Their presence in decision-making bodies ensures that these issues receive the attention and resources they deserve.
“Empowering women in politics and governance is not only a matter of fairness, but also a strategic imperative for building more inclusive and effective democracies.
‘’By overcoming barriers and creating opportunities for women to participate fully in political life, societies can benefit from their diverse perspectives and contributions towards creating a more just and equitable world for all.”
A speaker (name unavailable) said those aspiring for political offices should come out.
However, she admonished women to rather support their own, instead of being envious of them.
“We should stop backstabbing our fellow women who are in politics, but rather, we should support them to succeed.
‘’We should bring more women groups into the coalition. Those with the capacity should come out and we will support them to succeed,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Amaka Ede, from Anambra State, advised against “the money mentality prevalent among women, stressing that such mentality will not help women.’’
“Most of our women,’’ she said, ‘’are only interested in money, but such mentality has continued to deny women the chances of winning elective positions against those who are more financially endowed.
‘’But we should be supportive of each other.”
