Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, yesterday, called for amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to ensure 40 per cent representation of women in state Assemblies, National Assembly and in arms of government, saying it will bring about progress in the country.
Babalola, who made the call at the 2024 International Women’s Day Lecture organised by Law Students Society of ABUAD in honour of his late mother, Mrs Abigail Babalola, urged women to come together, take advantage of their population, and participate more in politics.
He said: “God did not create women to be inferior to men. Look at what happened in our university here. In some courses, women are more than men. When you have 10 first class, nine will be girls. I remember our 2022 Convocation when all the 15, who made First Class in Law were ladies. Someone even said she thought they wanted to call out the ladies before their male counterparts. But alas, the truth of the matter was that no boy made a First Class in Law that year!
“My suggestion is that women should acknowledge that nature does not make them inferior to men. Both men and women have the right to rule this country. After all, women are not as susceptible to corruption as men. Women respect the law more than men. Put in positions of power, they are more committed and more committed and dependable. If you want an example, go to my university.”
In her keynote paper, titled: Inspiring Inclusion: Men and Women as Partners in Progress, wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, lamented: “The percentage of the women occupying the political leadership positions in Nigeria and many other countries is still very low. I wonder why women should be begging for 35 per cent affirmation when both men and women should have equal opportunity.
“There is no doubt that the men outweigh the women numerically in these positions. Hence, the voices of women could not be heard easily in national discourse. However, we thank God for Ekiti State Government for being gender sensitive in the appointment of women into various political offices. This could be further improved as time goes on, for men and women to occupy leadership positions without any bias.”
“Women are not expected to play a second fiddle role in society. The men and women should always be given equal chance and opportunity to dictate the political climate without seeing the women as weaker vessels.”
