The trending topic on the role of women in nation-building below
WOMEN AND NATION BUILDING IN ANAMBRA STATE: AN APPRAISAL OF ANAMBRA CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT: (2010 – 2015)
The study is geared toward identifying and analyzing the contributions of women to socio-economic and political development in Nigeria with particular emphasis on Anambra State. It was carried out using both primary and secondary sources of data. The secondary source of data is employed in analyzing the key concepts. At the same time, the real issues canvased were x-rayed through survey research using simple percentages in analyzing viewpoints of related members of the society obtained through structural questionnaires. The study observed that women especially those in Anambra Central Senatorial District have contributed meaningfully to nation-building in Nigeria and recommended a clear-cut policy that will guide women's programmes and grant them greater leverage to be part of policy formulation and implementation should be adopted.
INTRODUCTION
Since independence, women's participation in politics and decision-making in Nigeria has been a controversial issue. The 1st republic had only four female legislators in the whole of the country, a negligible number that cannot give women the necessary influence in politics. In that era, the contribution of women in nation-building could only be imagined and not felt. The imposition of military rule, an era that followed this period from 1966 did not foster women's participation in politics and very little was heard of women in politics and decision-making (Samuel and Segun, 2012:7).
The participation of women in nation-building increased in the 2nd and most notably in the republic. Few women emerged as councillors, one woman, Chief (Mrs.) TitilayoAjanaku, as Chairperson of Abeokuta Local Government Council in Ogun State, and two female Deputy Governors, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu and Mrs Cecilia Ekpenyong in Lagos and Cross River State, respectively. Furthermore, only one woman was elected to the Senate and very few others to the House of Representatives. It is worthy of note that before 1999, the proportion of seats occupied by women in national parliament never exceeded 3.1% and 5% for the federal Executive council (Luka, 2012). But these women proved they deserve more opportunities with their stellar performances.
The year 1999 marked the beginning of a new dawn as Nigeria returned to civilian government after the demise of military rule. Women's political participation witnessed sharp improvement over previous experience. President Obasanjo who assumed power on May 29th 1999 made a clear departure from the past and appointed 4 out of the 29 senior ministers representing 13.7% and 3 out of the 18 junior ministers representing 16.6%. Furthermore, he appointed 2 women advisors and 2 senior special assistants and 6 special assistants and 1 special assistant to the vice president as well as 8 permanent secretaries (Luka, 2012:29).
Women were also appointed as commissioners and were members of the executive councils in all the states (Kalawole et al, 2012:135). It should be noted that while the number of women in political positions drastically increased between 1999 and 2011, the positions were mostly appointive rather than elective. From 1999 to 2011, no woman was elected into the office of the president or governor in any of the 36 states.
However, In 1999, out of the total seat of 469 (Senate and House of Representatives), there were only 15 women representing 3.19%; this increased to 25 in 2003 representing 5.33%; there was a further increase in 2007 to 34 representing 7.24% and a slight decline in 2011 to 33 representing 7.03%. Although between 2003 and 2007, 4 to 6 women were elected as deputy governors. In spite of these improvements, the representation of women in politics and decision-making in Nigeria is still a far cry from the global benchmark of 35% affirmative action. It is against this background that this paper examines "Women in Politics and Decision Making in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects". In Nigeria and the rest of the world, women have over time proven to be valuable assets and contributors to nation-building.
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