FEMALE LEGISLATORS FORUM MOBILISES FOR 2015 POLLS

The national coordinator of the forum, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, stated this in a keynote address she delivered at the national conference of the forum in Awka yesterday.

She said it was important that they started mobilisation of the women in their respective states ahead of the forthcoming elections to enable them improve on the number of women that would win various elective positions come 2015.

She said: 'Distinguished colleagues, I implore you to go back to our various states and mobilize women not only to participate in electioneering activities but to assist them to ensure victory at the poll especially the forthcoming local government and governorship elections across the states of the federation.

'In view of the poor performance of Nigerian women in 2011 general election, it is important that the women go back to the drawing board and use this platform to re- strategise and plan well ahead of the 2015 general elections.'

and I believe this forum will provide a golden opportunity for us to map out strategies for increase participation of Nigerian women in politics', she added.

Earlier in her welcome address, the speaker of the Anambra state House of Assembly, Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili who spoke in the same vein called for more opportunities for women in politics to win more elective positions at various tiers of government.

'My candid position therefore is that the Nigerian women should be encouraged to unite and work together to increase the chances of women in governance through the education of the girl child and that urgent step should be taking to achieve the 15% affirmative action for women in governance as well as address the low number of female legislators in the country,' she said.