Less than 72 hours to the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, the Oyo State Government has launched a campaign to increase women’s participation in the electoral process.
The campaign to was also encourage dialogue around women’s roles in civic governance and nation building.
At the sensitisation programme tagged the “One Woman, One Vote Campaign,” and organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, the state government brought together participants from all backgrounds across the 33 local government areas of the state.
Addressing the participants, who converged on the Local Government Training School, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, various speakers, including the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, charged women to exercise their democratic rights and to ensure that their voices are heard in the governance process.
Balogun, in her keynote address, stated that the sensitisation campaign was not just a call to action, but also a movement aimed at empowering women to take their rightful place in the electoral process.
She explained that the programme would also focus on educating women about the voting process, including how to locate their polling units and cast their votes correctly.
She added that the campaign would be pivotal towards empowering women’s voices to be heard in the electoral process and their rights respected, stating that the outreach would extend to women-focused NGOs and the female demography at large and ensure that all bridges were covered in the search for equity.
Balogun, who maintained that participants at the programme were drawn from across the state and across different political and religious affiliations, said: “Today, we gather at a pivotal moment in our democratic journey, one that underscores the importance of women’s voices in shaping the future of our society.
“The ‘One Woman, One Vote Campaign’ is not merely a call to action, it is a movement aimed at empowering our women to take their rightful place in the electoral process.
“This initiative recognises that when women vote, they influence policies that directly impact their lives and communities. Thus, we embark on this mission to enlighten, educate, and engage women in the electoral process.
“Distinguished guests, esteemed leaders, and all the incredible and beautiful women gathered here today, I am honoured to stand before you at this vital campaign aimed at empowering our voices and ensuring our rights in the electoral process.
“Today, we embark on a journey to uplift and engage our women in the democratic process, because we recognise that our participation is crucial to shaping our future. We have a strong focus on mass movements from the 11 local government areas in Ibadan.
“This initiative has also brought together young homemakers, female farmers, bright leaders in the equality of the female demography for Ibadan North Federal Constituency.
“Our outreach will extend to women-focused NGOs and the female demography at large, ensuring that we cover all bridges in our search for equity. The initiative specifically targets the female demographic, especially our vibrant market women, women-focused NGOs, which are the society at large, which include all manner of entrepreneurs.
“We also recognise the invaluable role played by women-focused NGOs and community organisations. These groups are essentially mobilising women, raising awareness about the importance of voting, by reaching out across to the 12 wards of Ibadan North Local Government Area and engaging with all the major markets in the constituency, which is the primary target of this intervention.
“With this intervention, we aim to create a ripple effect of awareness and action that encompasses all our women. Our primary goal is to increase voter engagement and turnout among the demographic of this constituency.
“Each woman’s vote holds power. And, when we come together, we can significantly impact the electoral landscape by involving not only market women, but also women from various sectors. We can ensure that our collective voices resonate and drive change in our communities.
“The strength of our unity will help us to address the matters that matter to us as women, which include matters that affect our children and all our families. In addition to increasing voter turnout, we should focus on engaging our women about the voting process. This includes helping them to locate their polling units and understanding how to count their votes correctly so that they will count.
“By providing this essential information, we hope to reduce the incidence of voided votes and ensure that every woman’s voice and opinion is heard and counted. Our educational efforts should be tailored to meet the diverse needs of women from various backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity in our vote.”
The commissioner maintained that the initiative would also encourage discourse around women’s roles in civic governance and help them to recognise the unique perspectives and contributions that women bring to leadership.
“Civic engagement is another crucial aspect of our campaign. We aim to encourage dialogue around women’s roles in civic governance and nature building. It is essential that we recognise the unique perspectives and contributions women bring to leadership and decision-making processes. By fostering such, we include women from all walks of life. We can create a more comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.
“As we embark on this important journey, let us remember that our strength lies in our unity. Together, we can transform our communities and ensure that women’s voices are not only heard, they are amplified and are instrumental in shaping our future.
“I encourage each and every one of you beautiful women to take this message back to your communities and inspire others to join us. Let us work hand in glove to create a society where every woman feels valued and inspired and empowered,” Balogun added.
In his goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade said the Governor Makinde administration considers women as very important to the society, hence the important places they occupy in the government.
“Women in Oyo State are key to the present administration, and there has been no administration in the past that has given women such vital roles and exposures as Governor Makinde administration has done and is still doing.
“For the first time in the South-Western part of Nigeria, we have women occupying the positions of the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service, serving side by side and back to back in the same administration from 2019 to date. There has been none.
“I am trying to illustrate and drive home the essence of today’s programme, which is entitled ‘One Woman, One Vote’, and its instructive pertinence to subsequent elections and governments in Nigeria and particularly in Oyo State.
“The presence of three women commissioners holding key positions in the present administration along with the SSG and the Head of Service is not by coincidence. It is a deliberate action informed by Governor Makinde’s recognition of the role women can play, and have played in his own emergence as a two-term governor, and their competence ratio in this particular government is second to none.
“What women should aspire to from 2027 and beyond, therefore, is to lead this country because you are capable of leading this country. And you are in a position to, because you have given more than enough for the political development of this country.
“So, you should rise and give men a run for their money. You may be surprised at the urge and the surge of enthusiasm and acceptance that such political ventures will generate among the critical chunk of the population and from people like us.”
Similarly, former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, who was represented by Chief Oluwakemi Bello, the Iyaloja of Ibadanland, Chief Iswat Ameringun, the Iyaloja of Ibadan North, Chief Omotayo Borode and the Director General of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OMASED), Dr Morounkola Thomas, who was represented by Mrs Bukola Adetunji, all pointed out the significant role women play in elections worldwide.
They commended Governor Makinde for granting women more vital roles and greater exposure than any previous administration in the state.
In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Mofoluwake Ibitoye, expressed optimism that granting women the opportunity to get more involved in the electoral process would help shape their future, foster community development, and strengthen the nation’s democracy.
