Female politicians may soon overthrow men –Jonathan

Posted by admin Headlines, Women Politics Friday, May 11th, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday predicted that almost all political offices in the country would be occupied by women in the next 15 to 20 years.

He said although the process of empowering women politically might be currently difficult, it would become real very soon.

This formed part of Jonathan’s speech at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

He regretted that although youth and women empowerment were critical to national development, finance remained a major hindrance to their taking up leadership roles; irrespective of whether they are educated or not.

He said it was only when education was combined with entrepreneurial finance that youths and women would be placed in a good stead to take up their leadership roles in Africa.

Jonathan said salaries from paid employment could not fund a young man or woman’s quest for a political office in a typical African environment, adding that more earning could be made through entrepreneurship.

The President said it was extremely difficult for him when he was trying to pressure the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to field 50 per cent female candidates during the last election.

He said the stone wall he met in that attempt informed his decision to appoint more women in his cabinet.

He said, “In my government, we have given them (women) these privileges so that they can encourage other women.”

Jonathan told his audience, which included the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi; President Ali Bongo of Gabon; Namibian Prime Minister, Nahas Angula; and about 700 business and political leaders across Africa, that his administration was doing more to encourage youths and women by granting them access to funds through his administration’s ‘You-Win Programme’.

-Punchwp_posts