By John Okeke
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) may soon experience the influx of women participating in politics in the region .
This coming is coming even as the ECOWAS Parliament Female Parliamentarian Association (ECOFEPA) has created an awareness on the need for women to join into politics to ensure a full representation of women in governance.
Speaking in Abuja on weekend , Hon. Woraye Sarr, President ECOFEPA ,during the First Edition of the ECOFEPA Women and Youth Leadership Symposium decried the lean representation of women in politics adding that “the Symposium aims at sensitizing women on the need to take their rightful place in the politics in the region.
“It is no secret that there is insufficient political representation of females and youth in the sub-region. A huge part of this Leadership Symposium is therefore to create awareness and interest amongst our participants as we are faced with a ‘chicken and egg’ problem where there is limited representation within these groups to look up to as role models, naturally making a career in politics and leadership seem less attainable and attractive, leading back to less representation. We need to break the cycle, we need to show the females and youth the full range of options available to them, make them aware that they can achieve, while ensuring we equip them to become whatever it is that they want to be.
“The theme of the symposium is “Unleashing the Potential of Women and Youth in Politics and Entrepreneurship”. In most cases, Political participation is not something that one suddenly wakes up to, but starts off rather as a series of skills which are applied to an interest which one would have been exposed to. Following from this with a growing sense of confidence and levels of engagement, as well as skills’ nurturing, one can then be able to enter the political space fully and become an active participant. This program is therefore cleverly structured to raise awareness, inspire and equip potential leaders and politicians. It aims to empower all our participants and equip you with the right tools for professionalism and employability.
The five core pillars of the Symposium are Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Political Competence, Social Activism, and Emotional Intelligence.
“This Symposium aims to deepen and strengthen the role of females and young people in politics and entrepreneurship with a focus on the these five building blocks. One major hindrance to this, which is so easily overlooked is the internal prejudices, self-limiting beliefs and ‘impostor syndrome’ that affect women and youth vying for leadership positions. Coming out of the programme, it is expected that they will better understand political issues, be able conduct research and reach solutions which they will be confident enough to voice in a professional setting,” she said.
“Once again, I would like to welcome you all to the First Edition of the ECOWAS Parliament Female Parliamentarian Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium. In closing, I implore you all that as we embark on this initiative, you do so with a deep sense of commitment and intentionality keeping in mind the potential of the Symposium on the development and progress of the sub-region and in achieving the vision of ECOWAS,’ she added.
In her speech, Aisha Buhari, the First lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said ,”I am happy to be part of the 1st edition of the ECOFEPA Women and Youth Leadership Symposium, which I consider it timely and a milestone in our development agenda.The theme: Unleashing the Potentials of Women and Youth in Politics and Entrepreneurship reflects on ECOFEPA’s efforts to resolve the economic challenges of women and youth. This forum therefore provides an avenue to explore and share experiences on best practices as it concerns leadership and entrepreneurship for women and youth.
The potentials of this forum in developing women and youth are enormous.
I applaud the leadership of the ECOWAS Parliament, headed by Rt. Hon. Mohammed Sidie Tunis and equally congratulate the organizers of today’s forum (ECOFEPA), for coming up with this laudable theme.”
