Mrs. Lawrencia Mallam, the former Minister of Environment, has urged for a significant increase in the participation of women in politics.
She made this call while expressing her concern over the state of the nation, accusing male leaders of mismanaging the country.
Speaking at a sensitization seminar organized by the Dignity of Women Commission at St. John’s Catholic Church in Kaduna, on Sunday, the former minister emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in governance.
The seminar, themed “Women Participation in Politics and Guide for Direction,” provided a platform for Mrs. Mallam to address the challenges facing the nation.
She expressed deep concern over the rampant looting of public funds, describing it as “worrisome” and attributing much of the nation’s woes to the actions of male leaders.
She lamented that the current state of affairs has led to widespread social issues, pushing the youth into vices such as human trafficking, domestic abuse, and kidnapping.
Mrs. Mallam strongly encouraged women to reject the misconception that politics is a dirty game and to actively engage in the political process.
She urged women to join political parties en masse, emphasizing that their involvement is crucial for building a better nation. “We are just beginning to know the truth, and we must be very serious about this. God willing, we shall succeed,” she said.
Highlighting the disproportionate control men have over the economy, she noted that men occupy 95% of leadership positions.
Mrs. Mallam argued that women are better managers, drawing a comparison to how women efficiently manage households with limited resources. “No wonder it is said that if you train a woman, you have trained a nation,” she remarked.
She expressed disappointment over the reluctance of women to participate in politics, questioning why they continue to allow men to dominate the political landscape and, in her view, run the country down.
Mrs. Mallam stressed the need for women’s voices in parliaments across the country to speak out against the ongoing corruption and societal decay.
In her address, Mrs. Rose John Bagu, the chairperson of the Dignity of Women Commission, echoed Mrs. Mallam’s sentiments.
She emphasized the need for women to strategically organize themselves across all political parties, ensuring that they are well-represented and can effectively advocate for change.
