Tinubu’s Appointments Into NWDC A Slap On Us – Northern Women

Northern Women are in fury over their exclusion from the nine-member North West Development Commission, NWDC

Some of the leading women in the professions from across Northern Nigeria have sharply rebuked the nominations into the North West Development Commission, NWDC on the claim of lack of female representation on the nine-member board.

In a statement made available to GWG.ng the ladies affirmed that the failure of President Bola Tinubu to nominate Northern women to the NWDC board represented a mind view that the female gender is inconsequential to the development of the society.

The ladies further asserted that that frame of mind contributed mainly to the reason why the Northwest was lagging behind in major development indices.

The statement was signed by Asma’u Joda, Saudatu Mahdi, Maryam Uwais, Aisha Oyebode, Amina Salihu and Mairo Mandara.

Others who signed the statement included Qadriyya Ahmed, Fatima Akilu, Rabi Jimeta and Habiba Mohammed.

The statement read in part:

“The recent announcement by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, appointing the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission (NWDC) should have been a historic step towards regional development. Instead, it feels like a disheartening slap in the face of Northern Women.

“Not a single female name appears among the nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation. It goes against the grain of the National Gender Policy, the President’s promise of at least 35% affirmative action for women in his appointments and all sense of justice and equity. 

While noting that Northern Nigeria has a rich history of formidable female leaders, professionals, and activists, the ladies said:

“The blatant disregard of the female voice also speaks volumes about the mindset of those who are in charge of the nomination process. Indeed, it probably conveys why, in fact, the North West region is lagging furthest behind on so many human capital indices. The statistics are alarming, to say the least. The mulit-dimensional poverty ratings in those 7 States range from 72% to 90%. Four of those 7 States have more children out of formal school, than in school. The vast majority of those States have less than 20% girl-child literacy rates. Citizens with insufficient food consumption in those States hover between 72% and 80%. What could be more telling?

“The decision to exclude women from pivotal decision-making roles suggests a conviction in high places that the contributions and perspectives of women are inconsequential to solving these pressing problems. This glaring omission is an opportunity lost for all. And the region can only be the worse for it.”

“The promise of development through the NWDC can only be fulfilled if it embodies true representation and inclusivity. If we are to effectively confront the myriad of socio-economic challenges in the North, it is essential to harness the expertise and insights of all members of our society, and for peacebuilding, particularly women who command respect within the communities. Who possess innate negotiating skills, compassion and grassroots experience to achieve scale, impact, and sustainability,” the Northern women said in thier criticism of the appointments into the NWDC board.

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