In a move to promote gender equality and women’s participation in leadership, a not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation, Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), recently held a special fundraiser to support credible female candidates in the 2023 elections.

The fundraiser was held in collaboration with renowned author and women’s rights advocate, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Speaking at the event, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, Amina Oyagbola, emphasised the importance of the fundraiser in motivating action toward women’s inclusion in governance.

She said: “In line with our mission of developing women to build a better nation, we understand the necessity of galvanising action to accelerate women’s inclusion in governance and ensuring active female participation in all spheres of our nation.

“In the 2019 elections, we were disappointed by the decline of female representation in all strata of governance. As 2023 is a critical election year, we have taken this step to galvanise support and raise funds to boost the campaigns of credible female candidates across party lines running for various offices for the good of the nation.

“We are non-partisan and non-political and are therefore not concerning ourselves with political parties. Our focus is on the viability of the candidates and equitable female representation. We must all agree that the solutions to our national questions lie in the hands of all of us.

“Our shared prosperity, the development and growth of our economy, and the welfare and progress of our people must be established and secured by all Nigerians. That is why the democratic ideal of all-inclusive governance must be promoted and given great importance.”

The Guardian learnt that the fundraiser was conceived at the 2022 WISCAR Annual Leadership and Mentoring Conference where Adichie gave the keynote speech as the Distinguished WISCAR Awardee.

Commenting on the move and its contribution to the development and growth of Nigeria, Adichie revealed that the case for women candidates and political representation was not about women being better but about women being well represented in governance.

“If we want a better democracy, we should also want better representation, as you cannot have half of the population severely underrepresented in governance.

“Role models are important because when we see what is possible, then we are more likely to think that it is doable. I believe in Nigeria, so I am very happy to see that there are women who also believe and are working to make our nation better but this cannot be achieved without men. The advocacy for the inclusion of women cannot be actualised without the collaboration and participation of men. We all have an opportunity today and during the upcoming election to make a difference that counts,” she noted.

Some of the female candidates present at the event were Hawwah Gambo, House of Representatives candidate; Ireti Kingibe, Senatorial candidate; Adeola Azeez, House of Representatives candidate; Simi Olusola, State House of Assembly candidate and Joyce Daniels, Local Government Chairman candidate.