Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka , Abuja
The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs),women leader,. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Chief (Mrs) Rachael Adewumi, has hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving recognitions to Nigerian women by appointing them to key positions in his government. And also the appointment of Nigerian youths into various critical positions in his government.
The president of a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO): Takem Empowerment Initiatives (TEIs) that trains and empowers the widows, orphans and other less privileged persons in the society, while commending President Tinubu also commended FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for his scintillating performance within the last one year in office.
Amb. Rachael Adewumi who addressed journalists on Wednesday to mark June 12, Democracy Day in her office in the nation’s capital noted that Democracy Day was initially being marked on May 29th of every year, but since 2018, under the leadership of the immediate past president of Nigeria, Retired General Muhammad Bihari, Democracy Day was changed from 29th May, to the June 12. This was done to commemorate the democratic election of Moshood Abiola on June 12, 1993, which was aborted by the military government of Retired General Ibrahim Babangida.
However, this year’s celebration is historic and marked differently from the past ones, because it is the second Democracy Day President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be marking since he assumed power on May 29th, 2023.
However, among the eight women who were given different appointments in the present government, which made her to commend the president, according to her were: Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa and; Minister of State, FCT, Mahmoud Mariya Ibrahim.
Others are: Minister of State, Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade – John; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka – Anite and;M inister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye.
Chief Rachael Adewumi further assured Tinubu that the women she gave appointments would not disappoint him, while assuring him of the support of the women traders across the country under her watch.
She however observed with dismay that the representation of women in the 10th National Assembly wasn’t a significant improvement from the 9th National Assembly. The 10th Assembly, according to her had women occupying three out of 109 seats in the Senate, representing 2.7 percent and 17 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, making 4.7 percent. The women’s representation in all the 469 seat, according to her were only a paltry 4.2 percent.
For having known the value of the women in the area of prudence, she appealed to the president to use his political acumen, as an experienced politician to give more appointments to the women, and encourage them to have more seats at the lower and upper chambers of the parliament in the future. This she said would go a long way to among others, address the imbalance in the system, move democracy forward, make the women feel belonging and encourage their participation politics, government, and leadership positions in Nigeria.
Dr Adewumi also noted that the decision to accommodate youths in his government would make the youths, being the leaders of tomorrow, learn from the elders. She also added that there were other things the elders would also learn from the youths.
Extolling the FCT Minister for performance so far, she appealed to him to not only build more markets for the traders in his territory, but also advised him to ensure that it gets to the real traders at affordable rate, should he consider her appeal.
She observed that with projects commissioned in the FCT at Mr President’s one year anniversary, the minister, according to her would deliver, even as she urged him to extend his good works to satellite and rural areas of the FCT. She therefore urged the women to come out en mass to support the government in power.
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