First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has called on women to actively strive for power, stressing that it is not handed out freely.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association forum in Abuja, themed “Re-thinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance,” Tinubu celebrated the House of Representatives’ passage of a bill reserving 74 seats for women in the National Assembly, Vanguard reported.
Addressing the forum, the First Lady highlighted the progress made under the Tinubu administration in increasing women’s representation in high political positions, while also acknowledging the persistent cultural and social barriers.
“These barriers include deeply entrenched societal norms, systemic discriminatory practices, structural issues within our political systems, and financial incapability,” she remarked.
To tackle these challenges, Tinubu urged women to “walk the talk,” pointing out that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has eliminated financial barriers by making nomination forms for elective positions free at the grassroots level. This move ensures that capable and qualified women can participate in politics without prohibitive costs.
Praising the House of Representatives for passing the bill that aims to boost female political participation, Tinubu expressed her confidence in the Senate’s gender-friendly leadership.
“Power is not served a’ la carte, just as my husband, President Bola Tinubu said. You have to learn how to obtain power. You need older women to mentor you,” she stated.
Tinubu also emphasized the importance of education in empowering women. “Education is the cornerstone of empowerment.
By improving access to education for girls and women, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in political processes,” she added.
