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Nigerian Summit on Women in Governance
October 2 - 6, 2007
A National Summit on Women in Governance took place last October 2-6, 2007 in Obudu State, Nigeria. The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women, the National Democratic Institute, the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and Cross River State government. It gathered together a broad group of women political leaders from all over the country with the purpose of establishing an action plan that will guide the work of women in governance through 2011.
African Women Leaders Project Coordinator, Rosemary Kaduru participated in the meeting and had the opportunity to introduce the Club of Madrid and its work in democracy promotion, as well as the African Women Leaders Project’s objectives, strategies and activities. The participants were strongly interested in the project and warmly welcomed its implementation in Nigeria. The project will be launched in Nigeria in November 2007 with the first mission lead by Club of Madrid Member and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Wim Kok. The Hon. Dora Byamukama, former Member of Parliament in Uganda and currently a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, will participate as an expert practitioner.
Ms. Kaduru, along with representatives from the project partner organization, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), also had the opportunity to discuss the project and its activities in greater depth with various outstanding women politicians. Among those present was the Chair of the Committee for Women in the National Assembly, Hon. Bennie Lar, from Plateau State. This constituency is in one of the States that the Club of Madrid delegation will visit during the first mission to Nigeria.
The Summit was opened by the President represented by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Kayode Adetoknbo.
The objectives of the Summit included: setting the priorities for elected women in governance in the form of an action plan to be implemented over the next 4 years; strengthening synergies relations between the elected women and women civil society leaders; equipping women with relevant skills to ensure their effective participation in politics; and creating networks through which women can come together across parties.
After the sharing of some women’s experiences and discussion of their struggles, a series of expert papers on different topics on the role of women in governance were presented. This was followed by discussions and break up group workshops focusing on topics such as: stress management, public speaking, strategic negotiation and bargaining skills, developing effective leadership, mentoring skills, effective media skill and e-governance & ICT (Information & Communication Technology ) skills.
The action plan for the next 4 years included the following goals:
• Engendering the legislative Agenda of 2007- 2011
• Engendering budget processes
• Strategise for increasing female leadership and representation in political parties
• Networking and caucusing
• Developing strategies for civil society organizations and legislature cooperation
The plan was adopted and an official Communiqué, the Obudu Women’s Declaration, was issued at the end of the meeting. The Declaration stresses the need for better participation by the women in the National House of Assembly and the Senate. It also includes a summary of all key observations and concerns related to women’s political participation in Nigeria, as well as eighteen resolutions, and the final conclusions.
Click here to read the Obudu Women’s Declaration.
African Women Leaders Project Coordinator, Rosemary Kaduru participated in the meeting and had the opportunity to introduce the Club of Madrid and its work in democracy promotion, as well as the African Women Leaders Project’s objectives, strategies and activities. The participants were strongly interested in the project and warmly welcomed its implementation in Nigeria. The project will be launched in Nigeria in November 2007 with the first mission lead by Club of Madrid Member and former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Wim Kok. The Hon. Dora Byamukama, former Member of Parliament in Uganda and currently a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, will participate as an expert practitioner.
Ms. Kaduru, along with representatives from the project partner organization, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), also had the opportunity to discuss the project and its activities in greater depth with various outstanding women politicians. Among those present was the Chair of the Committee for Women in the National Assembly, Hon. Bennie Lar, from Plateau State. This constituency is in one of the States that the Club of Madrid delegation will visit during the first mission to Nigeria.
The Summit was opened by the President represented by the Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Kayode Adetoknbo.
The objectives of the Summit included: setting the priorities for elected women in governance in the form of an action plan to be implemented over the next 4 years; strengthening synergies relations between the elected women and women civil society leaders; equipping women with relevant skills to ensure their effective participation in politics; and creating networks through which women can come together across parties.
After the sharing of some women’s experiences and discussion of their struggles, a series of expert papers on different topics on the role of women in governance were presented. This was followed by discussions and break up group workshops focusing on topics such as: stress management, public speaking, strategic negotiation and bargaining skills, developing effective leadership, mentoring skills, effective media skill and e-governance & ICT (Information & Communication Technology ) skills.
The action plan for the next 4 years included the following goals:
• Engendering the legislative Agenda of 2007- 2011
• Engendering budget processes
• Strategise for increasing female leadership and representation in political parties
• Networking and caucusing
• Developing strategies for civil society organizations and legislature cooperation
The plan was adopted and an official Communiqué, the Obudu Women’s Declaration, was issued at the end of the meeting. The Declaration stresses the need for better participation by the women in the National House of Assembly and the Senate. It also includes a summary of all key observations and concerns related to women’s political participation in Nigeria, as well as eighteen resolutions, and the final conclusions.
Click here to read the Obudu Women’s Declaration.
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Page last updated: October 26,2007
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