By Najib Sani, Gombe
In a bid to enhance gender equity and social inclusion in governance, stakeholders from various backgrounds have vowed to mobilise women and persons with disabilities to actively participate in political processes in Gombe State.
The commitment was made during a stakeholders' sensitisation town hall meeting organised by the Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative' (WRAPA), Gombe State Chapter in collaboration with Dandalin Matasa Initiative for Rapid Development, under the Gender Equity, Social Inclusion and Accountability Project supported by Mac Arthur Foundation.
The event, themed "The Unfinished Business," and held at State Hotel Kaltungo, in Kaltungo local government area of the state, drew about 45 grassroots stakeholders, including women and youth groups, community and religious leaders, and civil society organisations.
The Executive Director of Dandalin Matasa Initiative for Rapid Development, Bachama Yusuf, explained that the meeting was aimed at promoting effective participation of women and persons with disabilities in politics and decision-making processes.
He highlighted the challenges with electoral reforms in Nigeria and emphasised the need for implementing the 'Justice Uwais Report' to strengthen democracy.
He urged stakeholders to demand accountability for gender equity and social inclusion in governance.
In her remarks, the Programme Officer of WRAPA national secretariat, Zainab Abdulrasheed, commended the stakeholders for their dedication to mobilising women and persons with disabilities to improve governance accountability and service delivery.
WRAPA State Coordinator, Anita Dogo, noted the organisation's efforts in advancing women's rights and participation in politics.
She expressed concern over the low representation of women in governance in Gombe State, citing the absence of a single female member in the State House of Assembly and the minimal presence of women and persons with disabilities in local government councils.
The stakeholders' resolved to take a significant step towards promoting inclusive governance and gender equity in the state in the 2027 elections by mobilising women and persons with disabilities to register massively in political parties.
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