“Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes’ They will say, Women don’t have what it takes”-Clare Boothe Luce
The Nigerian political space has witnessed so many strong and courageous women at one time or the other.
Given the kind of political horse-trading that goes on consistently in Nigeria, it takes a bold woman to venture into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Let’s recall Rosalyn Sussman quote thus “We still live in a world in which a significant fraction of people, including women, believe that a woman belongs and wants to belong exclusively in the home.”
Owing to biblical cadence, I think God made a woman to be strong and not to be trampled under the feet of men. Mary Elizabeth Winstead had say “you don’t have to play masculine to be a strong woman”.
Simone de Beauvoir summed it up with “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”.
“The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race.”-Susan B. Anthony remarked.
Today, how many of our female folks get involved in political and socio-economic facets that buttress our all-round development as a nation? What is the support of our men in that regard? Many a times, women are relegated to domestic duties and procreation which just bothers on our homes though wonderful, and can’t seem to be overemphasized. But then, who says that women can’t aspire and excel in different careers and walks of life?
“Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weaknesses.”-Madame Marie du Deffand.
Marilyn Monroe had say “Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition” Nigeria has had its fair share of female heroines especially in its struggle for nationhood and a brighter future. Many of them have made efforts worthy of mention and have become role models to the younger ones.
The likes of Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIwuala who served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003-2006, 2011-2015) and had also, previously spent the first 21 years of her career as a development Economist at World Bank comes to mind. Recall also that she was previously a Managing Director of the World Bank (2007-2011).
The Delta-born, first female minister of finance had also empowered Nigeria’s women and youth with the Growing Girls and Women in Nigeria Programme (GWIN); a gender responsive budgeting system and the highly acclaimed Youth Enterprise with Innovation programme (YouWIN); a highly acclaimed programme to support entrepreneurs that created thousands of jobs.
This program has been evaluated by the World Bank as one of Nancy Rathburn reiterated that “A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts.”
Another Amazon that has left her name in the sands of time is Iyom Josephine Anenih: She was Nigeria’s minister of women affairs from 2010 to 2011. Before her appointment, she was the first national women leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 1999 to 2005 and a special adviser on women affairs to former President Obasanjo until 2006.
She co-founded the Women Foundation Nigeria, an organization to help Nigerian women exchange views on global women’s issues and to help empower women in politics. She is a member of the Gender Electoral and Constitutional Memoranda Committee, which aims to incorporate women’s perspectives in Nigeria’s Electoral Laws.
Within her short stay in politics, she proved a point that women can stay above board and make their impact in politics without necessarily courting controversy.
Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the journalist turned politician who worked for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for fifteen years, anchoring the weekly NTA Newsline programme before venturing into politics and won the Federal House of Representative with a substantial majority.
She was the chairman of the house committee on media and publicity and later chairperson of the Diaspora affairs committee. Her role in vehemently opposing the third term agenda of Obasanjo’s government can’t be forgotten.
Senator Margery Okadigbo, former senator who represented Anambra north senatorial zone, Dr. Kema Chikwe, mother of popular Nigerian rapper, Nnaeto C., Honourable Funmi Tejuosho of Lagos State House of Assembly, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, former senator of Nasarawa state to mention but a few were those great women of substance who contributed immensely to our nation building.
This affirmed the words of Elizabeth Cady Stanton thus “The best protection any woman can have … is courage.”
“Every girl and every woman has the potential to make this world a better place, and that potential lies in the act of thinking higher thoughts and feeling deeper things.
When women and girls, everywhere, begin to see themselves as more than inanimate objects; but as beautiful beings capable of deep feelings and high thoughts, this has the capacity to create change all around. The kind of change that is for the better.”- C. JoyBell C.
“The king may rule the kingdom, but it’s the queen who moves the board.”-D.M. Timney” Let our men relish the quote and give their unfettered support to the women who aspire to make a contributory quota in the wider fora.
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”-Melinda Gates.
Here is to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, and may we raise them.
Obi, Justina Oly Rivers State.
