IPAC Director of Women Affairs Backs Gender-Inclusive Governance

IPAC Director of Women Affairs Backs Gender-Inclusive Governance

•Inaugurates Zonal, State Coordinators

•Unveils 2024-202 Action plan for Political Participation

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Executive Directorate of Women Affairs-Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), successfully convened a transformative two-day capacity training for women political leaders, themed:
“Breaking Barriers and Shaping Positive Attitudes for Inclusive Politics in Nigeria.”

This landmark event brought together women political leaders across party lines and featured the inauguration of Zonal and State Coordinators, alongside the unveiling of a bold and inclusive action plan by Senator Ireti Kingibe.

The keynote address was delivered by the former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.

Tallen, a former Deputy Governor of Plateau and one-time Minister of State, Science and Technology, described women as the bedrock and the spice of every successful electioneering campaigns or political movement.

She passionately urged women to confront systemic challenges and continue pushing for equity and inclusion in Nigeria’s political arena.
She suggested that President Bola Tinubu, as a former governor, senator and pro-democracy activist, should lead the charge for gender inclusion, stressing that his leadership can make a defining difference.

In her official remarks, Deputy National Women Leader of the APC and Executive Director, Women Affairs – IPAC, Hajiya Zainab Abubakar Ibrahim, reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to achieving 50% representation for women in political appointments and leadership positions. She emphasized the importance of collective advocacy, unity, and policy reforms to achieve inclusive governance.

The IPAC Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Dantalle, said; “It is time to break these awkward barriers that have no place in modern societies driven by technology that allows citizens to maximize their potentials and contribute to nation building. Cultural barriers, stereotypes, poverty, lack of education, violence against women, etc., must be broken immediately.

“Women’s rights are fundamental human rights that were enshrined by the United Nations for everybody, and subscribed to by Nigeria as provided for in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

He added that IPAC stands for inclusivity in politics, noting that the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria leads by example as it has established three
directorates dedicated to Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities, ensuring that the voices of the underrepresented groups are heard and considered within the council.

The conference convened IPAC Zonal & State Women leaders, party women leaders, CSOs, development partners, and allies who all pledged their support for the implementation of the newly launched action plan and the ongoing campaign for gender-inclusive politics.

The Executive Directorate of Women Affairs IPAC reiterated her commitment to building a political culture where women are empowered, represented, and equipped to lead effectively at all levels.