23rd April, 2018
Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), says cultural biases in the society that prevent male political leaders from giving women equal opportunities should be done away with.
“I think we should end that, so that our society can prosper,” Moghalu said on Sunday.
He spoke in Lagos at a Symposium organised by The Women International (TWI) Circle with the theme“ What Do Women in Nigeria Lack?”
Moghalu, who was a keynote speaker at the event, said that family, society and the nation would be better if women had equal opportunities as men.
“It is in our best interest to address the issue of gender equality,” the professor said.
He said women should be given the same consideration as men based on their competence and qualification.
Moghalu, who has declared his interest in running for the presidency in 2019, said women are critical to national development.
“Women should be given equal opportunities like men, I don’t agree with 30 per cent for women,” he said.
He expressed displeasure that only six per cent of the nation’s parliamentarians are women, describing it as unfortunate.
According to him, women in Nigeria should strive to be like those in Rwanda where females made up 56 per cent of those in parliament.
Moghalu highlighted some other challenges facing women as education, access to finance, and violence against women, among others.
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The presidential aspirant, who expressed commitment to gender parity, said he would announce the political party under which he would contest in May.
He urged women to challenge laws that suppress them, and to vote out any legislator impeding passage of the Gender Equally Bill before the National Assembly.
Mrs Chinny Okoye, the Founder of TWI, said that the group would mobilise women for more participation in nation building in 2019.
“We need to be heard; our voices need to be heard, women have a lot to say and contribute,” Okoye said.
According to her, women have the capability, competence and qualification to attain any height in any chosen field of endeavour.
The circle forum is a platform to ensure that women come together to ensure that their voices are heard and needs met.