The call for an inclusion and increased participation of women and youths in the politics and electoral processes has been issued by the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association.
The call was made in Osogbo,the Osun State capital on Tuesday in a program themed “Increasing Women and Youth Participation In Politics and Electoral Processes.”
The program which was a Town Hall Meeting in Osogbo, was organized by The United States Government Exchange Alumni Association, Osun State Chapter with the support of the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos.
Speaking at the event were Femi Adefila, the chief executive officer, Rave FM 91.7, and Mojirade Aminu, the Executive Director of Women for Social Justice.
Femi Adefila, said women and youth who constitute 101 million and 33.3 million of the Nigerian population and should be sensitized and made aware of their civic responsibility to participate in active politics.
He also informed the attendants that there are no polls on social media as elections are won by active participation.
“We want to sensitize them, to galvanize their interests and their consciousness that it is a civic responsibility that we should take very seriously. Do you imagine 101 million women and 33.3 million being passive and not active in politics?
“We told them there are no polling units on the social media, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, you need to be active. You need to leave the comfort of your home, go to the polling units and perform your Civic responsibility. That is the only strategy for you to use to elect your leaders. Enough of complaining and enough of gang-standing; it is time for active participation.
Also speaking, Mojirade Aminu, said the participation of the youths and women should not be only during the election period but a continuous one and also encouraged them to get their PVCs.
In his words, “Their participation should be a continuous one, they should not come out during the election time. They have to have the knowledge of what it takes to belong to a political party. They have to know the electoral process. They should get their PVCs, belong to a political party and try to contest for a post.
“There are different women-concerned groups that train women who want to go into politics. We want to this to be a continuous one and not just when the election is near.” She said.
