NIGERIAN WOMEN HONOUR STATE HOA SPEAKERS

12 February 2022

As part of the agenda for women’s movement for 2022/2023, Nigerian women hosted the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Abuja on Thursday 10 February to a thank you dinner for their roles in the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act law in the various states.

Dr. Abiola Akiyode -Afolabi, Founding Director Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and convenor of Womanifesto representing the women’s group gave a welcome speech at the occasion in Hilton Transcorp. Akiyode-Afolabi applauded the Speakers for their contributions towards the development of Nigerian Women and highlighted the need for celebrating the Speakers for supporting the VAPP Law in 31 states across the country. She said “VAPP Law was the fastest legal framework ever passed in Nigeria, given that within six years 31 states have passed the law. Nigeria is at a pivotal moment with the ongoing constitution review process, we believe the legislatures can contribute to ensuring opportunities for women at all levels”

Professor Joy Ezeilo Chairperson, Gender and Constitution Reform Network and UNWomen Consultant on constitutional review commended the swift passage of the VAPP law at the state level and urged the Speakers to put in swift action to enhance the passage of the proposals before the National Assembly to increase women’s political participation. She urged the speakers to support the proposals on special seats, citizenships, indigineship and for affirmative action in elective and appointive positions.

Dr Lydia Umar who represented Womanifesto commended the efforts of the Speakers in ensuring that the VAPP Act was domesticated and called on the other states to ensure passage and domestication in their respective states.

Comfort Lamptey, Country Director of UN Women representative Nigeria & Ecowas commended the efforts of the Legislators in collaborating with Women to help achieve the desired goals to eliminate gender bias policies.

The 31 Speakers who have domesticated the VAPP Act in their various States were given awards for the critical roles played and commended for their contributions to the protection of the rights of women and girls.

The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Suleiman who spoke on behalf of the 31 speakers that were honoured, assured Nigeria women that with the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law by 31 State Houses of Assembly, the rights of women and persons with disabilities will be protected without any form of discrimination. Suleiman thanked his colleagues that have passed the VAPP law and urged them to implement the laws while appealing to the remaining 5 (Yobe, Zamfara, Gombe, Kano and Lagos State) to pass the VAPP law in their states. Suleiman reiterated the pledge of Speakers of State Legislatures to support gender alterations in constitutional amendments.

The state speaker of Kano was commended at the dinner for pledging his support with assurance that Kano will soon pass the VAPP law. The states that are yet to pass the VAPP law include Lagos, Yobe, Zamfara, Gombe and Kano State.

Dr. Limota Goroso-Giwa, representing the National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA) in her vote of thanks remarks thanked the legislators for their support and urged them to continue to advocate for Women.

Other Women group leaders present were Barrister Ebere Ifendu of Women in Politics Forum, Felicia Onibon 100 Women Lobby Group, Esther Eghobamien Mishelia Women Arise Development & Humanitarian Initiative, Comfort Leah Ash Foundation Bauchi, women representatives from Zamfara and Sokoto states.

The Dinner and Awards night was organised on behalf of Nigerian women by Women Advocates Resource & Documentation Centre (WARDC), Gender & Constitution Reform Network and National Coalition on Affirmative Action (NCAA), Gender and Constitution Reform Network, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
and Womanifesto.

Esther Alaribe
news@wfm917.com
www.wfm917.com