In light of the recently concluded Local Government Council elections in Benue State, Mimidoo Uhundu, Executive Director of Spring of Hope for the Girl Child Development Initiative (SHoGDI), has expressed concern over the lack of female representation in key leadership positions. Mimidoo voiced her disappointment that no woman emerged as a chairperson in the elections, calling it “a slap” on the efforts towards gender equality.
Uhundu stressed the need for political parties to be deliberate about mainstreaming gender in their nominations to ensure that female candidates are available for the electorate to vote into office. She emphasized that while appointments are necessary, there is a critical need to have more women in elective positions.
“Political parties should be deliberate about mainstreaming gender in their nominations, this way there will be female candidates for electorates to vote into office,” she remarked, emphasizing that beyond appointments, elective positions must be made accessible to women.
Mimidoo, who is also a strong advocate for women’s rights and empowerment, has been at the forefront of campaigns advocating for gender equality in leadership across various sectors.
READ ALSO: SHoGDI Urges Action to Empower and Protect Nigerian Girls
She reiterated that achieving sustainable development goals, especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality), requires collective effort. This includes encouraging women to run for office and making political spaces more accessible to them.
- By Ken Gbados
