BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, said that his administration would work towards achieving 35 per cent women representation in governance in the country.
He spoke in Abuja at the Nigeria Women Strategy Conference, with the theme,  ‘Building Bridges of Opportunity: 2015 and Beyond,’ organised by the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

Jonathan, who spoke through the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, said his administration  would also be gender-friendly by encouraging women’s participation in politics.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to Sambo on Media and Publicity, Mallam Umar Sani.

“One of the policy directions of our administration is the increased women participation in governance. We have set the target of meeting the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, of promoting gender equality and empowering women and the 35 per cent affirmative action on women representation in governance.

“I am proud that our women have never had it so good. Our administration, to say the least, is gender-friendly and compliant.
’’Apart from the accomplishments of women in the political sphere and their career pursuits, we have had significant progress in their meteoric rise to the pinnacle of their professions.

“We have had a woman Speaker and another female majority leader in the House of Representatives. We have had women senators,  governor and deputy governors, members of the House of Representatives, members of the houses of assembly at the state level, local government chairpersons and councillors at the grassroots level,” he also added.

Jonathan further said that women were by their nature compassionate, loving and caring, adding that “Politics is all about selfless service and deep concern for humanity’s progress which is a natural trait possessed by women through their natural roles as mothers and nurses.”
He, however, stressed the need for more political education and enlightenment to encourage women participation in politics, particularly, elective offices