Re: IWD: It’s time to break the glass ceiling – By The Guardian Editorial Board

The global community today beams an unprecedented searchlight on biases women face in the cause of building the nation, as the world commemorates International Women’s Day (IWD) 2022

Nigeria, as a member of the global community, should show more than a passing interest in challenging those factors that impede the social, economic, cultural and political progress of women. Indeed, the country has not shown an admirable record in women’s affairs but the time is ripe to break the glass ceiling.

Coming on the heels of the global movement for realising women’s rights, equality and justice, the IWD 2022 is marked with the theme: #BreakTheBias. The unique celebration is an opportunity to consider how to accelerate globally, the 2030 agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) five and four – to ‘‘achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’’ and ‘‘ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning,’’ in that order. Although it is now globally accepted that both men and women have complementary roles to play in a nation’s development, some forms of bias against women and girls continue to hold women back and deprive them of their basic rights and opportunities.

Such prejudices loom larger in the Nigerian socio-political, cultural and economic spheres, where women’s contributions and potential to national development are still freely palmed off. The House of Representatives’ recent rejection of a bill seeking to reserve special seats for women at the National and State Houses of Assembly is a stark reminiscence of enduring biases against women. Of the 302 lawmakers present at the session, only 81 voted in favour of parliamentary seats for women! Similarly, the male-dominated House also expressly threw away another bill seeking to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration.

Besides politics, available evidence affirms that Nigeria is yet to birth equality in business, economy and other spheres of human endeavour. Particularly in political leadership, corporate boardrooms and factory floors, women are yet to have equal say in the policies and decisions that affect their lives, bodies and environment, from villages to cities. Besides, Nigeria is yet to achieve significant and sustainable progress on the socio-economic emancipation of women.

Yet, inimitable are the roles Nigerian women consistently play in nation-building. The famous quote, “women are the backbone of the family and the bedrock of a nation” succinctly captures these unsung heroes. They have consistently brought lives to the world, nurture families, and work harder to cater for loved ones. Unbroken by the stakes, they consistently shine in all walks of life – including the male-centric political space – juggling both family life and the demands of a career. Women deserve better opportunities, fewer prejudices, to do more for national development.

This newspaper, therefore, aligns with the global community on the need to break the bias. The delimiting hurdles before Nigerian women are at variance with the ultimate goal of the Nigerian National Gender Policy (NGP), which is to build a just society devoid of discrimination, harness the full potential of all social groups regardless of sex or circumstance, promote the enjoyment of fundamental human rights and protect the health, social, economic and political well-being of all citizens to achieve equitable rapid economic growth. Ipso facto, adherence to this policy is yet to be fulfilled, and the National Gender Policy has been a mere beauty on paper.

However, the IWD 2022 is an opportunity to cascade the theme: #BreakTheBias, into action. This is by embracing integrated and innovative approaches and new solutions that disrupt “the usual” to advance gender equality and empowerment of women. Break the bias that they face through cultural norms, policies, laws, professional bodies, media reportage and civil society activities, particularly in the areas of survival, development, social protection, participation in decision making, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure. Also, to celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realise their full potential.

Specifically, women groups and NGOs should push for the institutionalisation of accountability mechanisms and frameworks in the implementation of the NGP and the use of gender-disaggregated data for planning. Available evidence since the return of civilian rule in 1999 and the socio-political realities suggest the need for constitutional and electoral reforms in Nigeria, especially as it has to do with challenging the marginalisation of women in politics. Women groups should hold Mr. President and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to account for the non-implementation of Nigerian NGP.

Despite the recent debacle in the House of Representatives, development-conscious political parties should not only have women leaders but be deliberate about having women stand for elections by ensuring that women emerge as candidates in party primaries. Nigerian women makeup about half the population and should be politically aware to convert this strength to power. They should be politically conscious, get Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), be ready to vote and be voted for in 2023. Also, women should engage the government using moral suasion, advocacy, bargaining and negotiation for power to pursue internal party democracy that will entrench affirmative action in party constitutions.

Women who choose to work can make a significant difference in their success in life. Albeit they face rough weather on the way, society should forge inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive and their achievements are celebrated. Similarly, we should seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. It increases their visibility by spotlighting remarkable women leaders while calling out inequality and raising awareness against bias.

Together, we can all help create an inclusive world. From breaking the bias comes change. So, let’s all choose to break the bias and birth equality in political leadership, technology and innovation, feminist leadership, corporate boardrooms and factory floors. End gender-based violence, promote economic justice and rights for all, bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and feminist action for climate justice. We are co-pilots and together we land the plane of gender-balanced development safely. So, cross your arms to show solidarity!

It’s in the same vein in agreement with Chinemerem Onuorah today, “that women should be given a chance at all levels to break all the barriers. This day as she stated provides a platform,, “International Women’s Day provides a platform to constantly reminding our society about women’s issues while encouraging them to continuously challenge the status quo, attempt to shatter that glass ceiling and break the bias women face on a daily basis.

Extracts:
Madam Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, so, what is this your dream, vision and mission for Nigeria?

I have a dream that one day a woman will become the President of Nigeria. May I put it directly also that, I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, I WILL EMERGE AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!! My Vision and Mission is the “PMA – ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA” – It is “Real change for real people” by me PMA when I get the Nigerian’s support. It is time to CHANGE the change!

What are your plans for Nigeria if God allows you to get there?

My AGENDA is the “PMA – ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA”. As an academic, Nigeria will witness functional, effective, efficient, accessible and affordable education, which is the bedrock of any nation, as well as better governance, delivery of dividends of democracy, massive employment, accelerated economic development, improved health delivery, massive human capital development, massive infrastructural development, aggressive fight against corruption, improved welfare for Nigerian workers, and the masses, when I, PMA – CHOICE, become the president of Nigeria. As a detribalised Nigerian, services of technocrats shall be fully employed and utilised to its maximum.

Do you believe in restructuring?

Yes I do because, “Restructuring stems from the concept of true federalism. True federalism is a system that operates based on the shared responsibility of individual units while having a central core that binds everyone together. What Nigeria currently operates is the direct opposite, but we need true federalism.”

Do you think that women are ripe enough to assume the topmost positions in Nigeria politics?

Certainly yes, amongst others, take for instance, the likes of late Dora Nkem Akunyili OFR (14 July, 1954 – 2014) who was the director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control; the former co-odinator of Nigeria’s economy and now the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and even I myself, a lecturer of 35 years in the university. We’ve long been ripe enough to assume the topmost positions in Nigeria politics and are more than capable and ready.

There are lots of challenges confronting this nation, both internally and externally. How are you going to tackle these issues?

That’s a major question, thank you. Yes, lots of challenges confronting the nation especially as regards insecurity via criminal activities of the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements in the county. They invade communities, markets, churches and schools and kill, maim, destroy and kidnap without much resistance by the current government.

No much help from the developed world and the United nations either as they seem to be more occupied and busy with COVID-19 than pay attention to the daily destruction of lives and property on-going in Nigeria. However, with God, all things are possible, I already have a road-map for Nigeria, with an agenda in my manifesto which cannot be summarised in few lines here. What I call “The PMA advanced restructuring agenda,” thus, people can always Google it, as I have it published online already.

What is the level of awareness for a woman to become President in Nigeria?

There are several Women for Women groups already set up in the past, and He for She groups, as well as Youth for Women groups. We are already mobilising them while creating other new ones such as National Coalition For Female Presidency In Nigeria, NCFPN. Once we are able to improve on this awareness, we shall definitely be successful because women votes accounted for about 47% during the last election.

How would you source for funds for this campaign, because politics in Nigeria we know is all about money and this is a very difficult terrain for women?

I believe in being thrifty and it is not a do or die affair. One can only source funds and spend only what one can afford, cutting your cloth according to one’s cloth and size. I have always depended on good-will and well wishers rather than cash. I look forward to a time when money-bag politics and vote-buying will end in Nigeria.

How do you intend to defeat Atiku Abubakar in a PDP primary?

If PDP could adopt Direct primaries through electronic voting, I shall win him; now that the 2021 electoral Bill has been amended and Party primary could be conducted through direct, indirect or consensus methods.

A direct primary is used when voters decide their party’s candidates. In an indirect primary, voters elect delegates who choose the party’s candidates at a nominating convention. I look forward to this great decision by PDP to adopt Direct primaries.

How do you think the Women folks can mobilise for this female presidency to support your aspiration?

I will say that from now onwards, every woman should endeavour to speak to at least fifty (50) women to vote for A WOMAN PRESIDENT” in Nigeria. Tell FIVE (5) WOMEN daily from now till 2023 elections. They should be reminded, Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Your happiness starts from you and not from someone else.” Then all the Nigerian YOUTHS and all the “He for She” and all the MEN should campaign as well as vote for the first female president in Nigeria in 2023. This could and would be the only functional approach.

Your major National Award or Honour?

We would recall that towards 2019 elections, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had endorsed my Presidential candidacy on the 8th day of June, in Port Harcourt and at the same event, I was awarshed with an Award of Excellence in Service and Outstanding leadership; with the inscription on the plaque “In recognition of her consistency, steadfastness, developmental strides, motherly disposition and mentorship towards the students community and society at large.” I once again say thank you to the Youths and Students community as I continue to enjoy their unalloyed and massive support. At the same event I was endorsed for the Presidency by the Niger Students Union Government, National (NSUG) I also serve as their matron.

Tell us about your other endorsements?

The N-POWER GROUP (U WIN, I WIN) against 2023 Presidential election, has endorsed me on Wednesday January 5, 2022, at a courtesy call in Port Harcourt has endorsed me a viable presidential candidate. And I did accepted their nomination encouraging them to continue with their campaigns on my behalf. It is an association initiated by, and made up of Nigerian daring Youths in the 36 States of the country. They are already drawing participants from LGA to LGA, state to state and the entire country towards the 2023 elections.

In an earlier development, another political pressure group and accountability vanguard known as Democratic Watch for Good Governance in Nigeria (DWGGN) in what they called “PMA FOR RESCUE 2023” has similarly called on me to occupy the seat of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.” The call was made at the council’s office in Port Harcourt during its quarterly meeting. The group opined that the country is in total shambles and needed urgent remedial intervention.

Don’t you think the bar should be lowered to the advantage of women in politics?

The bar has been lowered already in Nigeria financially for the women folks, and that is quite commendable. For instance, Nigeria is fully in support of women aspirants, our tickets are that of Nigeria, as the nomination form is free for women at all levels. Thus, I say thank you to the nation – Nigeria for the encouragement and to all political parties which agreed that the ladies could pick our forms politically at all levels for free, we are grateful; while we pay only the token for expression of interest. And as such, my presidential form is free. Nigeria is confident that the current challenges in the country can only be tackled by the women, and that is one of the foremost reasons for their decision. We need the electorate to equally key in and support the female candidates as well. The educational bar of WASC/SSCE at all levels is even too low. However, they can still create free zones, where only women can contest.

Nigeria is facing many challenges, including economic and security challenges. But you think the country’s situation is redeemable. Why?

Yes, there are lots of challenges confronting the nation especially as regards insecurity via criminal activities of the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements in the country. They invade our communities, markets, churches and schools and kill, maim, destroy and kidnap our people without much resistance by the current government. We live in fear daily.

However, with God all things are possible, I believe Nigeria could get over this, if we are ready to restructure the country. We need to revisit the 2014 national conference and re-define the current structure of the country. As for me I already have a road-map for Nigeria, with an agenda. It’s what I always refer to as,” The PMA Advanced Restructuring Agenda,” and I have it published online already. This to me is an holistic approach to economic and security challenges.

The allocation to education in the 2022 budget is less than eight per cent, even when the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), promised an increase in allocation to the sector. What is your take on this?

The educational sector has always been under-funded in Nigeria. The major problem of the educational sector in the country is that of funding. Education is not funded adequately. Take, for instance, in 2020, Nigeria’s educational budget was far from the 26 per cent of the national budget recommended by the United Nations. Same in 2021, as well as the allocation to education in the 2022 budget which is less than eight per cent, as you have just rightly sited. If I am given the opportunity to become the president of the country, the funding of our educational system will definitely be prioritized and would take another dimension, since I am an academic. Take for instance, teachers are the most paid workers in Singapore.

A major consequence of inadequate funding of the educational sector is the lack of infrastructure and many of our institutions and schools now have old and dilapidated buildings. Many tertiary institutions do not have well equipped laboratories and libraries. And those with libraries are filled with outdated books, periodicals and journals.

What are your chances of winning the PDP presidential ticket considering the calibre of people you would be contesting with in the party for the primaries?

The contest would be quite challenging, I know, but I believe that the chance for a woman aspirant to win is higher now in PDP unlike in the days of Dr. Sarah Jibril who has broken the ground for the women in the presidential election. The contest would really be with the likes of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; from the North. Then, from the South are former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and Enugu state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, etc., so it is indeed quite competitive.

Your last words please!

May I conclude again that I have a dream, that one day, a woman will emerge as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the dream is now! This is because, if Nigerians elect a female president, it will be a turning point in the nation’s history. It will also be an honour to have Nigeria’s first female president. If Nigeria can give women a chance to rule, I am sure we will never regret it.

AGAIN, I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, I WILL EMERGE AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!!

A SHORT PROFILE

AMB. PROF. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES

AMB. FUNMILAYO ADESANYA-DAVIES, a linguist educationist public servant since 1988, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, has served as a University lecturer and administrator for thirty-six (36) years, 1985 to-date as a consultant, researcher and activist to-date. Mercy Olufunmilayo, a multi-talented teacher of teachers is a member of POLAC Int’l Peace Advocate, who currently serves as the Country President, International director, as well as, the Deputy Chairperson on the board, serving humanity towards achieving ECOWAS millennium goals. POLAC – Positive Livelihood Award Centre, alias UN-POLAC ‘s mandate is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN millennium development goals and UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme particularly the maintenance of peace and unity in diversity.

Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies hails from Ira, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. In the political parlance, once an ardent Member of ACCORD Party in Kwara State over the years, then a prominent People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member, and presidential aspirant in 2019, she later emerged as the presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election. She is the editor and co-author of the celebrated and popular presidential endorsed book, Jonathan/ Sambo Presidency in Nigeria: A Symbol of Peace, Unity and Progress, placed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in every University and National libraries of the Country, in line with the Commission’s continued efforts to promote publications, research quality and global visibility of academic staff in the Nigerian University System.

A credible woman of impeccable character, she believes in determination, professionalism, excellence, accomplishment and experience. One who cherishes the ideals of a democratic, free and egalitarian society, she thus emerged as the ticket bearer of MAJA and a female candidate in 2019. She is known for her leadership prowess and competence, strategic mind, ability and skills, vocal audacity, strong presence and personality. She demonstrates resilience as well as versatility, locally, nationally and internationally and political interest, education, humanitarian activities, general experience in administration, in over three decades.

Mercy Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies with her B.A (Ife), M.A English (Ilorin), Ph.D Applied Linguistics & Communication Studies (Port Harcourt) and P.G.D.E (Port Harcourt) holds a Doctor of Divinity (D.D) and Professor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) of Northwestern Christian University, USA. She is also working currently on her second Ph.D in Clinical Linguistics and Psychology at TBU-GE, New York, USA, where she serves as an adjunct professor and consultant.

Mercy is an academic and educational consultant, on professorial cadre, at Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, where she has lectured in language, linguistics and communication studies in the past thirty-two years. She also facilitates courses in Language and General Studies at the National Open University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and has served on sabbatical, as Deputy Provost at Life gate College of Education, Ilorin; Kwara State, Nigeria; Dean at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Regent University of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana and a Visiting Professor to the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. Mercy, an international educationist, is an External Examiner, supervisor of Doctoral dissertations, for the School of Postgraduate Studies of one of the African number One Universities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Mercy Davies facilitates Seminars and Workshops for Longman Pearson, Nigeria and Cinefores, Brainfriend Project, Lagos, Nigeria.

She has over one hundred national and international published articles, books and poems to her credit and has delivered several scholarly, professional and public lectures in Nigeria, Africa, UK, Europe, United States, Canada, etc. Mercy is a member of; The British Association for Applied Linguistics (UK), Internationale de Linguistiquee (AILA), International Phonetics Association, UK., Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) Nigeria, The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), and Teachers Registration Council (TRC) Nigeria etc. She also serves as External Examiner supervising Doctoral dissertations for the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Passionate about the transformation, development, progress and unity of Nigeria, she is an accomplished educationist, who believes she can boost Nigeria’s Human Capital Development Index and its Competitiveness in the area of skills and talent management. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, the Chairperson of Princess Mercy Ade-Davies International Foundation (PMADIF) is the newly appointed Country President of POLAC vying for the position of Nigeria President as the only Amazon Aspirant of Nigeria’s largest party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023.

Thank you Madam!