Paschal Emeka, Abuja | Posted June 13, 2024
The leader and president of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), popularly known as Takem Empowerment Initiatives (TEIs),
Chief (Mrs) Rachael Adewumi has commended the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu for not only giving the women their deserved recognition in his government, in appointive positions, but also for recognizing the youths as well, adding that such decision is a way forward for democracy in Nigeria.
TEIs, a non profit, non governmental organisation over the years, amongst others trains, empowers widows, orphans, vulnerable and the less privileged in the society.
The president and the leader of TEIs also doubles as the women’s wing, Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs),
The woman leader also lauded the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for delivering dividends of democracy, to residents of the nation’s capital.
Amb. Rachael Adewumi addressed journalists today, while marking June 12 Democracy Day in her office in the nation’s capital.
You may wish to recall that Democracy Day was marked on every May the 29th in the country, being the day Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in as a democratically elected president, since the 1983 military coup, which toppled the democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
However in 2018, under the leadership of the immediate past President of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari rtd, Democracy Day was moved from 29th day of May, to the 12th day of June.
This was done to commemorate the June 12, 1993 presidential election, acclaimed to have won by the business mogul Chief MKO Abiola, but was nullified by the then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida rtd.
However, this year’s celebration is historic and marked differently from the past ones, because it is the first Democracy Day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is marking, since he assumed power on May the 29th, 2023, after a controversial presidential election.
While hailing Mr President for recognition of women and youths, in his government, especially in appointive positions, Mrs Adewumi noted that women have gift of prudence in management of resources and advised the women to live up to expectations.
She listed the eight women who holds different appointive positions in the President Tinubu’s administration as, Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu; Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and; Minister of State, FCT, Mahmoud Mariya
Ibrahim.
Others are: Minister of State, Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade – John; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka – Anite and;
Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye.
She however observed with dismay, that the representation of women in the 10th National Assembly did not reflect a significant improvement from the 9th National Assembly.
The 10th Assembly, according to her had women occupying three out of 109 seats in the Senate, representing 2.7 percent and 17 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, making 4.7 percent.
The women’s representation in all the 469 seats, according to her, were only paltry 4.2 percent.
She therefore appealed to President Tinubu to use his political acumen, as an experienced politician to give more appointments to women, and encourage them to have more seats at the lower and upper chamber of the parliament in the future.
This she said would go a long way to among others, address the imbalance in the system, move democracy forward, make the women feel belonged and encourage their participation in the government, governance, leadership and politics in Nigeria.
While also commending Tinubu for accommodating youths in his government, Dr Rachael Adewumi noted that such decision would make the youths, being the tomorrow’s leaders, learn from the elders.
She also added that there were other things the elders would also learn from the youths, reasoning that no one person has monopoly of knowledge.
Extolling the FCT Minister for performance so far, she appealed to him to not only build more markets for the traders in his territory, but also advised him to ensure that it gets to the real traders at affordable rates.