The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Uche Ekwunife, PhD, has hailed women as valuable assets to productive and liveable society, adding that women political participation and empowerment are vital prerequisites for gender equality and true democracy.

Ekwunife, who paid a courtesy call to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, expressed that inclusive governance is achieved when women are given more roles on the table of decision and policy-making. She described women’s political participation as a precondition for a gender-sensitive government.

The A-grade lawmaker urged that focus should be on closing the gender gap and improving governance through applicable programmes geared towards building the capacity of women to get involved in the process of nation building. She encouraged women to put themselves forward and contest elective positions.

Commenting on the statistics of women in the 9th assembly, the Chairman Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation noted that having circa 11 percent of women in both chambers in the National Assembly was not a true reflective of women’s leadership abilities, saying that she is optimistic that more women win make it to the floor of the senator come next general elections.

Earlier, HE Laing lauded Ekwunife for her passion and commitment towards bridging the gender disparity through robust legislative engagement. She described the senator as a role model and an experienced lawmaker whose accomplishments are recognized worldwide.

The British High Commissioner while urging women to emulate Ekwunife’s political sagacity, courage and determination in breaking the ceiling in leadership, wished the federal lawmaker the best of luck as she bids to return to the National Assembly in 2023 for more transformational representation.