By
Ya’u Waziri
Several women’s organisations under the Gombe Women Agenda have organised a one-day stakeholder forum in collaboration with religious and traditional institutions to promote the protection of women’s rights and participation in decision-making.
The facilitator and convener of the forum, Ibrahim 3000, said the initiative was aimed at bringing together women’s groups to develop a common agenda that would ensure women’s concerns are reflected in the manifestos of political parties and candidates seeking elective positions.
He explained that the group had produced a document containing ten key pillars, recommendations and solutions to some of the challenges confronting women, particularly vulnerable women and girls in Nigerian communities.
According to him, the document will be launched and presented to politicians to enable them understand the demands and priorities of women ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
Also speaking, Secretary-General of the Gombe Women Agenda, Ruth Abina, said about one hundred women’s groups had come together under the platform to promote women’s rights and ensure their voices are heard and respected in decision-making.
She said the engagement would strengthen grassroots advocacy and sensitisation, particularly among women in rural communities and vulnerable groups.
Ruth Abina also called for greater participation of women in the electoral process, including their right to vote and contest elective positions.
In separate remarks, the Chief Imam of Gombe Central Mosque, Barrister Aliyu Hammari, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Gombe State Chapter, Reverend Joseph Shinga, pledged the support of religious institutions to the initiative.
They noted that both Islam and Christianity recognise the important role women play in the development of families and society.
The religious leaders therefore called for continued collaboration among women’s organisations, religious institutions and other stakeholders to promote women’s rights and development.
