By Victoria Ojeme & Caleb Ayansina
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Josephine Anenih, weekend expressed dissatisfaction at the loss of majority of women aspirants in the on-going parties’ primaries for forthcoming general elections across the country.

The minister, who stated this at a one-day capacity building programme for NGOs on women political participation, wondered what could be responsible for the loss.

According to her, “the result (of the party’s primaries) reaching us  is discouraging,disheartening, we have been thinking what is happening, the resources used in the campaign is enormous and the result is not commensurable.

“Could it be party structure or the parties that are populated by men are still shutting the door against women’s entry?

“Women face peculiar challenges in the political arena that limit their participation in the political process.

“Some of these include the pervasiveness of violence in politics, the non inclusion of women in party hierarchy, poor educational status of women and lack of funds for campaigns.”

Anenih said the realization of 35% affirmative action of women in authority was still a mirage, charging the participants to brainstorm on the implementation of the National Gender Policy.

“The implementation of our National Gender Policy, especially in realizing the 35% affirmative action through women representation in appointive and elective positions in the country is still a mirage.

“This forum is therefore one of the reasons why you as our necessary foot soldiers are expected to assist in sensitizing the grass-roots women on the need to register and vote so that together we can achieve our objectives of 35% affirmative action,” she added.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Idris Kuta, said the forum was designed to strengthen the partnership between the 300 NGOs registered with the ministry and government for gender synergy and effective service delivery.

“Available records also show that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has been networking with non-governmental organizations to achieve its mission of serving as the national vehicle to bring about the speedy and healthy development of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups like persons with disability and the elderly,” Kuta said.