Jonathan reassures women on 35% representation

President Goodluck Jonathan has again stated that his promise made on the 35 per cent representation of women in governance will be fulfilled.Jonathan gave the re-assurance, on Monday in Abuja, at the 2011 Partnership-Funded Mentorship Summit for African Women, organised by the African Women Leaders Think Tank (AWLTT).In Nigeria, today, we have many competent and credible women who have built capacities in thousands of lives, contributed immensely to building the civil, public, and private service sectors.Women have championed debt relief, grew the stock exchange, waged war against fake drugs, ensured justice and human rights and so on.These facts made me to promise during my campaigns that the 35 per cent representation of women in governance will be fulfilled, he said.The president explained that the Nigerian society had been making progress because women were involved in top leadership positions in the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government.He noted that Africas population has a 50-50 value of both male and female gender, adding that to have a balanced society, the two halves must have equal access to opportunities to leadership and participation.According to the president, when one half is disempowered or excluded, there cannot be a balanced growth and development, hence the need for inclusion of all in governance.Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Salamatu Suleiman, said that the female leadership development had to be a critical part in ensuring development in the country.Speaking at the event, The AWLTT Chairperson for Africa, Dr Remi Aribisala, said that the aim of the summit was to create an avenue whereby the best of African womanhood and the future women leaders discuss comprehensively on the impact of mentoring.It is aimed at mentoring women on personal career and ethical lifestyles towards a better African society.We need to help women take advantage of best practices of women leaders and thereafter become a better agent of change in the African society, she said.
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