The National body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s wing is set to begin this year’s nationwide empowerment initiative, tagged: APC Nationwide Empowerment ProgramME (NEP).
The programme, which would be carried out across the states of the federation, aims to uplift and transform the lives of women through targeted programmes and initiatives.
APC National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile, announced this in Abuja at the party’s women’s New Year celebration with the theme: Renewed Hope for APC Women.
The woman leader said her wing would use the nationwide tour to reach every corner of the country.
She said: “As we step into this new year, we will embark on a nationwide tour, reaching out to every corner of our great land. This tour will not only allow us to connect with the people, but it will also provide us with invaluable insights and perspectives from every state.
“We believe that by engaging with our fellow women and citizens, we can foster a sense of empowerment and inclusivity that will drive our party’s progress.
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“In the spirit of empowerment, we are proud to announce the 2024 Nationwide Empowerment Initiative. Tagged: APC Nationwide Empowerment Programme (NEP), every state will have the opportunity to participate in this groundbreaking endeavor, which aims to uplift and transform the lives of our fellow country women.
“Through targeted programmes and initiatives, we will work tirelessly to address the needs and aspirations of our women, ensuring that no woman is left behind.
“Furthermore, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming Pioneer Conference, a gathering of visionaries and trailblazers within our party. This conference will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas, appreciate the efforts of our heroes past, where we can collectively shape the course of our party’s future. It is through such collaborations that we can pave the way for progress and innovation.”
“Additionally, we are excited about the 774 Explode Initiative, which seeks to amplify the voices of our young women in politics. The 774 initiative is a programme aimed at increasing the involvement of young females in politics, in order to promote gender equality and inclusivity in decision-making processes.
“The initiative recognises the significant underrepresentation of women in political spheres and seeks to address this imbalance by providing opportunities for young women to actively participate in politics at different levels.”
“By encouraging their involvement and empowering them with the necessary skills and knowledge, the 774 Initiative aims to pave the way for a more diverse and representative political landscape.
“By applying ‘Catch Them Young’ strategy, we want to leverage our demographic advantage, when the 35 per cent affirmative that we are advocating for becomes a reality, recruitment of women into political offices becomes easy.
“However, a major challenge faced in advocating for women in politics and the implementation of project and programmes is the lack of adequate funding. Despite the recognition of the importance of women participation in politics, gender equality and the need for women’s representation in political leadership, little or no financial resources are allocated towards initiatives that support women’s political participation.
“The lack of funding hampers the ability to provide necessary training, mentorship, and resources to young women interested in politics, thereby hindering their progress and limiting the impact of advocacy efforts.
“Addressing this funding gap and allocating sufficient resources towards supporting women in politics is crucial to overcoming the existing barriers and creating a more inclusive political environment.”