Lagos State Chapter of the 100 Women Lobby Group is pushing to enthrone gender equality.
The group, at the weekend, took its campaign to Alade market in Ikeja, to educate the women on gender equality in politics, and create awareness on the ‘Five Gender Bills’ in the National Assembly.
Group’s Chairperson Sandra Oladele said the campaign was a platform to educate women on the importance of the bills.
“We see women in leadership, we see women in politics but they are not appreciated. In some states, there is no woman in House of Assembly; women are not favoured; we are set aside,” she said.
Oladele urged the government to give women equal chance in politics and give 111 seats in the National Assembly.
She added: “Many of the women do not understand what the bills are about so we have come down to teach them, to tell them in a simple language, in Yoruba and Pidgin, to know the importance of these bills and to understand the things we stand to benefit if they are approved.
“Therefore, if they have families who are in the National Assembly, they should talk and push them, so they can vote in favour of these bills.
“Our main focus at 100 Women Lobby Group is to increase the number of women participation in politics. We care about the female gender and we are against anything contrary to that.”
Group’s spokesperson Mrs. Olajumoke Otitoloju said women need to be aware of the ’Five Gender Bills’ and how it will favour women and children.
According to her, women are vested with responsibilities which cannot be over-emphasised in the community ‘but we are discriminated and neglected,’ she said.
Otitoloju added that women should come together and stand in one voice to end discrimination and stigmatisation against them.
She added: “Today’s programme is to enlighten the market women on the gender bills. We want women to be involved, we do not want women to lag behind anymore. We want to create greater awareness on why we need the gender bills and how it will favour women and our children because women carry out lot of activities and their roles cannot be over emphasised in the community, even in the homes.
“We are part of decision making but we need more voice, we need to speak louder so the men can hear us.
“We need to empower more women; we need to change that cultural mindset of women who are being relegated to the kitchen. We have lots of women doing well in their professions. Look at Alade market today, 99 per cent of them are women and most of them are doing very well at home, taking active roles in supporting their homes. That is why we are here to enlighten them on the gender bills and how women can come together and stand in one voice to end discrimination and stigmatisation.”
