How can women succeed in politics? What do they need to do? These were some of the issues discussed at the Women’s Power Lunch initiative of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF). JOSEPH JIBUEZE reports.
ACROSS the world, women are taking up leadership roles. Two of the most powerful countries, Germany and Britain, are led by women. In those countries, women enjoy the same educational and empowerment opportunities as men. There is no discrimination. But, in Africa, women leaders tend to be an exception rather than the rule. How can this be changed?
Despite the challenges, a few African women have braced the odds and succeeded in politics. One of such women is the former Malawi President, Dr Joyce Banda. An entrepreneur, activist, politician and philanthropist, Dr Banda served as President from 2012-2014. She was Malawi’s first female president and Africa’s second.
Prior to assuming office, President Banda served as a Member of Parliament, Minister of Gender and Child Welfare, Foreign Minister, and Vice President. While serving as Minister of Gender and Child Welfare, she championed the enactment of ‘The Prevention of Domestic Violence Bill (2006)’, which provided the legal framework to support the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. President Banda is credited for turning round an ailing economy which was on the verge of collapse in April 2012.
She was, therefore, eminently qualified to share with women on how they can succeed in politics. This she did at the Women’s Power Lunch initiative of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF), in collaboration with the Women in Development Enterprise Across Africa (WIDEAA).
Dr Banda, who delivered an inspiring speech on the theme: Women in Solidarity, a new paradigm for inclusion, urged women to aspire for the highest offices.
“We have to ensure that women issues move from the peripheral to the centre stage,” she said, adding that women must be economically empowered and not discriminated against.
“Women need empowerment while the girl-child needs education,” she said. She urged women to unite rather than working against each other.
During the question and answer session, Banda was asked if she attended political meetings held at ‘unholy’ hours, such as by 3am. She said: “If you don’t want to go through what men pass through, then you don’t want to be in politics… If you do not reserve your seat at the table, you will become the meal!”
Calling for implementation of affirmative action, Banda said deliberate policies need to be created to promote women’s participation in government as well improve education participation by the girl child.
She stressed the need to end harmful traditions that discriminate against women. “We can use the local chiefs to stop vices particularly the hyenas.” The hyena is a traditional practice in some remote southern regions of Malawi, in which girls are made to have sex with a paid sex worker known as a “hyena” once they reach puberty.
Obasanjo’s recipe
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the event, said women must be physically, emotionally and psychological prepared if they want to succeed in politics.
“If you are not strong physically, you’re chances are reduced, but you must also believe in God,” he said.
On midnight political meetings, Obasanjo said women must not only be part of them, but must outdo the men if possible. “You must also make your own nocturnal meetings last longer that than of your opponents. It’s the way it’s done almost everywhere.”
The former president joked that he when he was in power, he once asked people who went to Mecca to pray for the success of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Someone, he said, added that not only should they pray for PDP, they should also listen to what the opposition party members were praying for. “You must be well equipped to succeed in politics,” he told the women.
The former president said women, however, cannot succeed in politics without the support of men. “You must understand that you need the men. They have ego, so you have to manage that,” he said.
Obasanjo said women should not be deterred by scandals or being called names. “It is not only women. All leaders are scandalised. If you don’t want to be scandalised, don’t aspire to be a leader. If you don’t want water to be splashed on your body, don’t go into the river. If you don’t want to be called names, don’t go into politics. That is the bread and butter of politics.
“Even in America, Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton are calling each other names. The important thing is to have a good conscience and defend your actions before God and man. After campaigns, the name-calling will stop but if you don’t perform, it will be worse than being called names.”
Women must break barriers
Convener of the Power Lunch and Chief Executive Officer of MMF, Mrs Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, urged women to use their collective strength to generate force against the barriers that still hold them back.
“I believe that when women work together, we can generate more than enough force to shatter the barriers that still unfortunately hold us back in many parts of the world. These barriers take various forms. There are barriers rooted in ill-conceived policies and retrogressive traditions that restrict female access to qualitative education.
“There is the glass barrier that keeps eminently qualified women out of the highest levels of public service and corporate governance even when their talents and competence have been proven repeatedly.
According to her, these barriers have the combined effect of preventing women from living full creative lives and maximising their potential. She has, therefore, vowed to challenge policies that relegate women to sub-optimal lives.
“As one who engages with these sustainability issues in the African context, I am acutely aware that Africa’s quest for progress cannot be decisively resolved in her favour until she frontally tackles the ‘woman question’.
“Building inclusive societies which create spaces for women to take their place as productive actors in their national economies and politics is absolutely essential to promoting sustainable development outcomes,” said.
She noted that globally, more women are taking the lead, saying: “Interestingly, we are in a significant historical moment that highlights the zenith of female possibilities. In the United Kingdom, Theresa Mary has just become Prime Minister. The United States is hopefully on the verge of electing its first female president, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“These landmarks will resonate powerfully with a generation that is too young to have known Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meir.”
To her, politics and governance appear to be the final frontier in terms of female achievement even though many women have already broken so many barriers and debunked many mythical formulations about their alleged inferiority.
She said: “Nigerian women are already leading the drive for economic growth and progress. However the trajectory our continent is frightening. The narrative today is desperate poverty and under development.
“That, perhaps, is not surprising, so long as the 50 per cent of the population that gives birth to the 100 per cent is excluded, perhaps then we cannot complain about this narrative.
“Can you imagine how the narrative on Africa would change if women are given their rightful place at the table?
This is why the women who have broken these barriers are such powerful and compelling heroines.”
On role of the foundation, she said: “If our work at the Murtala Muhammed Foundation can be summed up in one word, it is ‘empowerment.’ Our mission is to empower women – to give them the tools with which to surmount the obstacles in the path of their self-actualisation – whether it is by promoting girl child education, or enabling female professionals break new grounds in their chosen careers.
“Our foundation is constantly looking for creative ways of engaging the social, cultural and institutional forces that hold women back with an eye on the big picture – the betterment of our continent and ensuring that we leave behind a more sustainable world for our children. This too is President Banda’s life’s mission.”
Muhammed-Oyebode described Banda as a “heroine”, saying she dedicated her life not just to public service, but modeling the possibilities of African womanhood to the uttermost as an entrepreneur, activist and philanthropist.
The Women’s Power Lunch is an annual event aimed to addresses pertinent developmental issues relating to African women. In attendance were women leaders and influencers from all walks of life including government, private sector, civil society, academia/students, media and the arts.