Peter Obi Celebrates Nigerian Women for Their Contributions to Development

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, recently praised women across Nigeria for their incredible contributions to the nation’s progress. He shared this sentiment in a message to mark International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the potential and achievements of women worldwide.

In his message, he expressed appreciation for women, acknowledging their fundamental role in the world as the bearers of life. He specifically highlighted Nigerian women, recognizing their vital contributions that have significantly impacted the country’s growth and development.

Obi emphasized the importance of empowering women through education, noting with concern the low enrollment of girls in schools. He cited statistics showing that half of Nigerian girls are not attending basic-level school, which translates to about 7.6 million out-of-school children in the country. Addressing these challenges, he stressed, is crucial for nurturing a generation of empowered and productive women who can contribute to national development, peace, and progress.

Advocating for greater inclusion of women in governance, Obi noted that despite policies calling for 35 percent female representation in all governance processes, the political participation of women remains disappointingly low. In the 2023 elections, only about 10 percent of the over 15,000 candidates were women. He called for more opportunities for women to take on active roles in governance, believing in their capacity to excel given the chance.

Obi also highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian women, pointing out that they make up 41 percent of micro-business owners in the country, with approximately 23 million female entrepreneurs in the SME sector. He emphasized the need to support and encourage these women, as their success in business would greatly contribute to Nigeria’s economic development, shifting the nation towards a production-oriented economy.

In closing, Peter Obi expressed optimism for the future of Nigeria, stating that by uniting with women, the path to a “New Nigeria” becomes more achievable. He wished all women a Happy International Women’s Day, recognizing and celebrating their immense contributions to society.