Wife of Benue State governor, Arch. Yemisi Dooshima Suswam has said that the low literacy rate in our country especially amongst women folk is due to the high level of poverty bedeviling the society as no society can grow economically if its citizens lack basic education.

Speaking recently at the 14th Horatio Oritsejolomi Thomas Memorial Lecture held at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Suswam maintained that education enhances human quality, which in turn advances national development.

Education and training in all forms she said, contributes to a transformation of power relations by giving women access to information, knowledge and skills as women’s education has always lagged behind in relation to their male counterparts.

According to her, “Most societies in Nigeria believe that the role of the women is to ensure the continuity of the lineage as she is therefore expected to marry soon after puberty because she does not need formal education to perform this function.

Since good level of formal education is one of the major factors that is normally considered in high decision-making offices, lack of good education often debar many women from contesting for political offices, and determining political outcomes as they affect them. This not only excludes them from decision making but also reduces the proportion of representations they are expected to enjoy in governance.”

She noted that between 1980 and 1992, the average poverty indices in Nigeria increased from 0.43% to 0.46% respectively saying that by 1996, the situation had worsened to an average of 0.66%, which implied at that time that, out of every 100 Nigerians, 66 were living below the poverty line.

Moreover, Suswam added that the poverty situation appeared even more debilitating when Nigeria was placed in comparative terms with other countries as between 1996 and 1997 was merely 0.4% compared to 0.48% for Ghana, 0.68% for Indonesia.  70% of Nigerians currently live in poverty.

“The increasing incidence of violence and crime such as armed banditry, kidnaping across the country, increasing rate of school drop outs among children as most families cannot afford the cost of education, growing rate of prostitution, child trafficking and cultism, increasing culture of begging and sycophancy among unemployed youths in their quest for survival are some of the ways poverty manifest in the society”

She said: “We assert without any fear of contradiction that women who constitute over 50 percent of the Nigerian population produce over 60% of the total output of national wealth (mostly food and other agricultural products). Despite their contribution to national wealth production, they receive only 10 percent of national incomes and earnings.

The gender dimension of poverty and inequality in Nigeria therefore shows that women have less opportunity for earning adequate incomes, access to education, health care, access to capital, position of power and decision making, less ‘control of-the formal economic and other structures of the society in which they live and work.”

The First Lady reiterated that if contemporary women like Professors Grace Alele-Williams, Bolanle Awe, Zainab Alkali, Charity Angya, Dr. Okonjo Iweala, Dr. Andrea Jogo, Hon. Lucy Alu, DrMargaret Icheen, Sarah Jubril, Flora Nwapa, Eugenia Abu, Prof. Dora Akunyili   to mention a few had not opportunity to education, they would not have been able to positively after their generation.

Her word: “Women have been conditioned by historical circumstances, religion and tradition to hesitate, even to be reluctant, to take high responsibilities in politics even when they have considerable education. As long as gender discrimination and cultural stereotypes continue to limit women’s choices and options, the desire of the nation in achieving economic growth and development will be hampered

Economic factors also come into play in keeping women from fully exercising political participation rights. It must be noted here that, political activities at any level in our society leading to the capture of power and allocation of values, require financial resources. Most Nigerian women, even if interested in politics, lack the financial backbone due to poverty.

This reduces their capacity to participate in political activities, determine policy choices and options aimed at improving their material conditions.”