Women in politics forum (WIPF), Youth Hub Africa and Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) on Tuesday 14th December, 2022 made a public presentation of governance agenda for an inclusive Nigeria (GAIN) with the theme: prioritizing the needs of Nigeria’s voters.
The main objective of the event was to present the governance agenda for an inclusive Nigeria (GAIN) to leading national and state-level candidates in the 2023 elections and the Nigerian public, to request from candidates in the 2023 elections to adopt priorities of Nigerian women, youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) contained in GAIN document.
Grace Jerry, Executive Director, IFA in her opening speech warmly welcomed the guests to the auspicious occasion where GAIN partners were publicly presenting the joint national policy agenda, also known as the GAIN priority agenda.
The GAIN policy agenda was developed by the GAIN partners with the support from USAID, FCDO, and NDI to spotlight keys issues that are peculiar to the most marginalized groups comprising women, persons with disabilities and youths. This group constitute an overwhelming majority of registered voters in Nigeria.
“According to INEC they represent 70% of registered voters as captures during the CVR process from June 2021 – August 2022. The GAIN policy have clearly articulated areas requiring immediate effective enforcement which will serve as the vehicle through which mainstreamed inclusion of these three demographics becomes a reality at all levels of governance and indeed all spheres of life” she added.
She further mentioned that this is not a document to be trifled with because it captures the voices of women, youths and persons with disabilities. contrary to the notion that people just sit in the comfort of their homes and collect data, this research was conducted with over 2000 KIIs and FGDs across the rural and urban areas of the 36 states and the FCT. Your commitment towards actualizing the various recommendations of the GAIN gives Nigerians the assurance that an inclusive society is achievable.
Finally, she said that they are calling on all key stakeholders to see this policy agenda as a working tool to be adopted as a strategic guide in fulfilling your campaign promises to the good people of Nigeria before and after the elections and hopefully with the collective efforts of everyone, issues concerning women, youths and persons with disabilities will no longer be relegated to the back seat.
Recommendations on the policies for women are legal and administrative reforms, increase women’s participation in politics and decision making, implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, enhance service provision on women’s health, engage men in the struggle for gender justice, address structural disadvantages that affect women with disabilities, economic empowerment.
As regards to the youths, the following were recommended: make our nation a safe and secure place to live, young people’s participation in policymaking and administration, jobs and economic growth for youths and for persons with disabilities are laws and policies, affirmative action, service provision.
The commitment card for 2023 general elections was signed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi who in his speech assured the women, youths and persons with disabilities that he was gender inclusive as a governor in Anambra State, and total inclusive of the vulnerable people in his administration. He also said that he will still do it once if he becomes the president, he ensured full implementation of the recommendations made by GAIN partners.
The accord presidential candidate who also signed the commitment card for 2023 general elections said this is a wake-up call for all the stakeholders and aspirants to include youths, women and persons with disabilities in their governance to ensure an inclusive society, the affair of the youth is what motivated him to contest because he is one of the youngest presidential candidate so that the youth can take back their country and he is assuring implementation of the GAIN policy.
The NNPP vice presidential candidate who represented Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Bishop Isaac Idahosa assured the implementation of the GAIN policy by his presidential candidate.
