Shatter the glass ceiling and break the bias, it’s International Women Day (IWD 2022)! -By Florence Akaakar

Re: IWD 2022: Breaking the bias for gender equality and women empowerment

As we celebrate the International Women Day (IWD 2022) on the theme, “Breaking the bias for gender equality and women empowerment”, today
MARCH 8, 2022, Chinemerem Onuorah a communication associate at Yiaga Africa as published by TheCable writes:

“On March 8 every year, the world celebrates women. This celebration spotlights critical trending challenges women face across the world and the necessary steps needed to break all the barriers. The International Women’s Day provides a platform to constantly remind 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.

Realising that women are more exposed to the challenges of climate change and still constitute the majority of the world’s poor population, further reiterates the need to not just celebrate their great feat but to take action to break all barriers. Thus, the theme for International Women’s Day 2022 – ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ with the catchphrase “breaking the bias” – spotlights the contributions of women and girls around the issue of climate change adaptation and mitigation, while consistently working to build a more sustainable future around the world. So without the inclusion of half of the world’s population, it is unlikely that solutions for a sustainable planet and a gender-equal world tomorrow will be realised.

According to data by the United Nations, women hold just 24 percent of senior leadership positions globally. Women’s participation and leadership in political and public life are essential in achieving sustainable development goals. Representation of women in the decision-making process means that more women’s and human issues are addressed. It no longer makes sense that a gender that makes up 50 percent of the world’s society is begging for inclusion in decision-making and leadership. It cannot be overstated that ensuring women’s rights is intrinsically linked to building global peace and achieving sustainable development goals.

It is therefore disheartening to see that the Nigerian national assembly kicked off women’s month by voting against all the constitution amendment bills that aimed to improve political inclusion of women in various facets of endeavour, especially politics. These include denying women 35 percent affirmative action in party administration and leadership, denying women the ability to take indigenship of their husband’s state of origin after 5 years of marriage, and especially rejecting the Reserve Seats bill, which would have added additional 111 special seats for women in the national assembly. This action by Nigerian lawmakers, which by the way, is made up of 95.9% men, suggests an utter disregard for women and a lack of vision for an increase in political inclusion.

The necessity of women in leadership cannot be overstated. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic by countries with female leaders proved how innovative female leaders are when it comes to the quality of laws and policies. Policies addressing education, peace, maternal mortality and gender-based violence are better addressed because women bear the burden of their children being out of school; they suffer when their male family members have to go to war and are directly or indirectly affected by sexual and gender-based violence; for that, experience and relatability move them to make better laws for these issues. This is the biggest reason for the demand for inclusion: laws tend to represent the actual needs of real people in society.

In order to strive towards a more equal world, countries must intentionally work towards including more women in decision-making processes, and especially addressing and breaking the barriers that prevent them from getting into leadership positions. More powerful female voices must be encouraged to speak up on women’s issues, and more men must stand with women to break the bias in order to achieve a gender-equal world today, for a sustainable tomorrow.

This year, women and men are admonished to break the bias that prevents women from attaining their full potential. The biases come in so many different forms; they are so ingrained in society that most people forget that they are there. As a matter of fact, the debate on whether women’s rights are indeed human rights is still ongoing, and gender equality is still a controversial topic.

While conducting a series of activities and awareness campaigns to mark International Women’s Day is important, all stakeholders must take intentional steps to break the bias. In the words of Sima Bahous, UN Women executive director, “let us make this International Women’s Day a moment to recall that we have the answers not just for SDG 5 (Gender Equality and Women Empowerment) but, through the advancement of gender equality, we have answers to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030”.

Therefore, what follows in this article is a short question and answer extract of Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies on her presidential aspiration in Nigeria come 2023 as we opined and agreed with Chinemerem Onuorah 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.

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.

Thank you Madam!