The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), has conducted a one day round table with women from various local government areas of Bauchi state aimed at sensitizing them on active participation in decision making, planning and management of activities that affect their well being and progress.
Aishatu Ibrahim Kilishi, the head of the Organization in Bauchi told WikkiTimes that the round table among other things had “facilitated discussion on gender equality, equity” amongst women with the view to ending anomalies that have retard their progress for decades.
“FOMWAN with the support of Global Affairs Canada through ActionAid Nigeria is supporting us on a project called ‘Women Voice and Leadership’ in order to engage women to make them realize that they are as equally important as the men in our quest for national development.
“Therefore, the project’s thematic areas is to empower these women so that they would realize their full potentials by becoming active participants, not passive recipients on things that concern their lives, that is why we are here today to brainstorm on how to achieve that kinds of feet”, Kilishi emphatically said.
Aisha who argued that the development of any society hinges on its ability to treat and carry women along said FOMWAN with support from its partners will continue to liaise with traditional rulers and government institutions to bolster women to participate in governance.
Women from various LGAs shared their experiences on how women could be liberated from the dungeon of underdevelopment.
“I think programs like these are very useful for people like us that from villages, because we are empowered to engage our husbands so that they will see the need to involve us on things that affect our lives”, Fatima Aminu from Ningi LGA who participated during the round table had said.
For Maryam Umar, the round table was an opportunity for her to meet women that will continue to mentor her; “this round table gave me more confidence than I was, and I think I will continue to synergies more educated women so that I will tap from what they have for my personal development”, she said.
