A former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure favourable conditions that will encourage more women into politics.

Mrs Tallen said this in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the unveiling of a book titled: “From Margins to Mainstream.”

The 200-page book was written by a gender advocate and politician, Nikky Onyeri.

The former minister who decried the low number of women in the political space equally called on political parties in the country to also make their condition flexible, saying that it would encourage more women into politics.

According to Ms Tallen, there are countless numbers of women that can stand shoulder to shoulder with men when it comes to political issues, adding that better conditions must be given if this must happen.

She also called on the women to come out en masse to vote for the right candidates in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo states elections.

She stated, “I feel so sad because the number of women that are giving tickets is not enough, it is just a little per cent and this amount to nothing, it is not that the women are not willing to come out, but they are not being given the support. We are calling on all our political parties, we are calling on INEC to make sure they give better conditions to encourage the women for the betterment of the country.’’

The former minister appreciated President Bola Tinubu, for carrying along more women in his government, adding that more was needed to realised gender equality.

Ms Tallen also commended the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, who she said she was doing a lot to support and encourage women through her pet project.

The former minister said that the first lady was doing so much in the area of youth empowerment and scholarship awards to children.

Speaking on the book, Ms Tallen said, “The presentation speaks volume because women are doing so much, adding that it is the women that nurture the home, ensure that both the husband and children are in sound health. There are a lot of responsibilities that lies in the women, they make sure the homes are in the right balance, yet it is never noticed, by the time you take a look at this book, you will appreciate women.’’

On her part, Ms Onyeri said that she was inspired to write the book based on the struggle she had seen by women groups in the last 30 years, and she had since then continued to support women emancipation.

Ms Onyeri, a breast cancer survivor, said that she was part of protesters to the National Assembly in 2023, who called for passage of five gender bills, but unfortunately the bills were not passed, and this also spurred her to write the book.

“I look at the past, the present and the future of where do our hope lies as women, and where do we want to be. This thinking had brought me to where I am today and am glad about that. I wrote the book from my own perspective, and I hope it will give people a cause to think about women and embrace them. I also hope the book will promote literacy. We are going to be donating books around the country from the fund we will raise from the launch of this book so that more people can know what gender is all about, we assume that many people do not know about it.”

According to Ms Onyeri, she will also be creating endowment funds for gender studies in the universities as they are the two key projects to be achieved after the book launch.

A gender advocate and public speaker, Moji Makanjuola, commended the author of the book, adding that she waged war against cancer, and a speaker for person’s with cancer.

According to her, women must hold each other’s hand, and stop impoverishing themselves, but must work towards developing themselves.

Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Simon Ikechukwu, said that the call for gender inclusiveness should not be limited to Nigeria only, but made global.

Mr Ikechukwu commended the author of the book and called on men to stop violence against women.

The highlight of the occasion was the conferment of award of excellence on individuals that have distinguished themselves in human endeavours.

They include Mr Bernard Igwe, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Bernard Igwe and Mr Ikechukwu among others.

The event was attended by dignitaries from both the private and government sector.
(NAN)