From the Office of SSA to the Governor, Mobilization and Enlightenment
One of the policy thrusts of Governor Ben Ayade's Government is gender mainstreaming. This is apparent in the visible roles women have been assigned in his cabinet and government, generally.
In Nigeria, statistics show that there have been continuous marginalization of women in politics and governance, by their male counterparts.
Paradoxically, the more government preach it, the less implementation takes place. The extant National Gender Policy (NGP) recommended 35% affirmative action for inclusive representation of women in both political and appointive public service positions in Nigeria.
It is, however, perplexing and disappointing to observe that from transition from military to civilian rule in 1999 till date, the women participation in government only witnessed growth from 3% in 1999, 4% in 2003 to 6% in 2007. It, however, started dwindling between 2011 and 2015.
In the current APC Administration at the Federal level, there are only 6 women at the Upper Legislative Chamber, Senate. Only 14, out of 360 representatives could make it to the Federal House of Rep.
Among the six females at the Red Chamber, is Senator Dr Rose Oko from Cross River North, where Governor Ayade himself come from.
His Willingness to handover power to a woman demonstrates, to a great extent, that Governor Ayade does not share in the hunch that " women education end in the kitchen".
The Digital Governor's unflinching quest for gender mainstreaming is further corroborated by the following appointment in Cross River State:
1. SSA, Mobilization and Enlightenment - Chf. Mrs Angela Ogeyi Odey
2. Commissioner for Health - Mrs. Inyang Asibong
3. Commissioner for Climate Change - Hon. Alice Ekwu
4. Special Adviser, Gender - Mrs Helen Egodo
5. DG, Primary Health Care - Dr. Beta Edu
6. Special Assistant LG Affairs - Martha Abang
7. SSG - Hon. Tina Agbor
8. Chairperson Child protection Commission - Mrs Theresa Ezama
9. Commissioner for Women Affairs - Hon. Stella Odey, among others.
From the foregoing, it is very obvious that Gov. Ayade cares for women and have respect for motherhood. He is, probably, the only Governor who has implemented the 35% affirmation in Nigeria.
I, therefore, implore all the women in Cross River State to galvanize support for the Governor to crystalize his dreams of inclusive and participatory roles for women in politics and government.
From:
Chf. Mrs Angela Ogeyi Odey, SSA Mobilization and Enlightenmwnt
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