In a tribute to mark International Women’s Day, Peter Obi, the main opposition voice and Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has commended Nigerian women for their invaluable contributions to the country’s progress.
Obi took this opportunity to join the global community in celebrating women worldwide, acknowledging their essential role in world procreation. He expressed special admiration for Nigerian women, whose invaluable contributions have significantly influenced our nation’s growth and development.
He applauded the resilience, perseverance, and unwavering sacrifices of Nigerian women, who, despite the numerous challenges our nation faces, continue to embody hope for a better nation. According to a Country Meters report, women make up 49.4% of Nigeria’s total population. If properly empowered, these significant numbers could substantially contribute to our national development.
Education is the most potent empowerment tool, especially for our women. However, the low rate of female school enrollment in Nigeria remains a concern. UNICEF reports that half of Nigerian girls do not attend basic level school, the most crucial level, accounting for about 7.6 million of the approximately 18 million out-of-school children in the country. These challenges must be addressed to raise a generation of empowered and productive women who will contribute to our national development, peace, and progress.
Obi has always advocated for broader inclusion of women in governance. He believes that our esteemed women, who have consistently excelled in leadership positions and public offices, will achieve more given additional opportunities. Despite the National Gender Policy requiring 35 percent involvement of women in all governance processes, women’s political participation remains disappointingly low. In the 2023 elections, only about 10 percent of the over 15,000 candidates who vied for various elective positions were women. Therefore, more women must be given the opportunity to play active roles in governance.
The entrepreneurial spirit of our women, if nurtured and supported, can significantly impact our economic development. Women reportedly own 41% of micro-businesses in Nigeria, with about 23 million female entrepreneurs in the SME sector. With adequate support, they will facilitate our transition from consumption to production.
United with our women, our journey to a New Nigeria becomes even more achievable. Happy International Women’s Day.
