CHANGE:  Are We Facing a Gender Reverse?  
Nkechi Cynthia Enuma 
 Saturday, September 12, 2015
 
 
It is only proper to preface this article by acknowledging that President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to complete his political appointments. That said, Nigerians, of which I'm proudly one, are observing a disturbing trend in Mr. President's political and nonpolitical appointments that needs to be flagged well before he finalizes his ministerial appointments by the end of September. This piece is a clarion call for an urgent reassessment of the Buhari administration’s appointment policies, as they pertain to gender-mainstreaming and the nation's youth. On this price, I'm sure I speak for many Nigerian women, even if unauthorized. 
 
Global trend generally shows females outpacing their male counterparts in most college admissions and graduations. A recent World Bank data shows a very similar trend; unfortunately, Nigeria has no data included in the report. The Pew Research Center, a Washington, DC-based nonpartisan think tank, documented this pattern in its article titled “Women’s college enrollment gains leave men behind.”
 
There has been so much outcry that Mr. President’s recent lopsided appointments are skewed towards northern Nigeria. Still just a brief mention was made in an article about gender inequality. Our main concern, therefore, is the emerging gender neglect and inequality. Women in Nigeria and worldwide have made tremendous strides in almost all economic and sociopolitical sectors; we will hate to be relegated to the background. The appointments so far has been dismally gender-unfriendly. Indeed, it is a severe reverse of the already attained 35 percent ratio. 
 
Our attention was first tweaked when Mr. President visited the United States of America last July. There was no woman in the Nigerian delegation. It was thought then to have been an oversight, since Nigeria has very prominent female politicians in all registered political parties. It struck us as odd that the maiden visit to a nation where women’s rights and gender equality are in the forefront should receive a delegation that was, for lack of a better word, seemingly gender-backward!
 
Gender equality is a right recognized by the United Nations and that body has been striving to correct and meet notional and prescribed targets. Why should it be different in Nigeria, a member of the world body and whose Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Prof. U. Joy Ogwu, is an intelligent and hardworking woman of substance and a former Nigerian Foreign Minister. Indeed, Nigeria has had two female foreign ministers and a female minister of state for foreign affairs. Our most recent minister of finance, a woman, was one among several notables in the immediate past administration. Our highest ranking UN official, Assistant Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, is also woman. On the West African coast, we are represented by at least three female ambassadors at the United Nations. 
 
Women are present in all walks of life and in all productive professions in Nigeria. Is Mr. President suggesting that we have no knowledgeable and honest women in Nigeria? Women in Nigeria have come too far to be suddenly relegated to the background. At the risk of offending some geopolitical sensibilities, women in most Nigerian ethnicities are no longer in the background.
 
Even a totally male-dominated cabinet of the most trusted and loyal allies still does not give room to the subtle influences and points of view that women bring to the table. It is not entirely true, as stated in some quarters, that women are more malleable to influence. There are some who would equally argue that women can be very objective and more resistance to the lure of influence.
 
Another worrisome sector is the age factor. Mr. President is in his early seventies. While we have seen no obvious signs of age, other than the obvious, it is a known fact that there is a pathological law of diminishing capabilities with age. We are happy to say that we are yet to see any signs of age-related ineffectiveness. That said, the world has come a long way technologically and otherwise since President Buhari’s last administration some thirty years ago. The appointment of very age-challenged persons to high public office is of concern. Part of the reason for the last administration’s failure at the polls in the last elections has to do with the continual neglect of the unmet needs and expectations of our nation’s youth. Younger Nigerians should have a stake in their future.
 
We cannot keep recycling the same old persons who have been in power for as long as we can remember. Surely, our younger generations have learned a thing or two about good governance. They are performing creditable in every niche sector around the globe. Moreover, the absence of good governance so far can be laid squarely at the feet of so-called recycled politicians. There is a culture peculiar to the younger generation and, with all due respect, Mr. President may not understand it fully, and neither will his aging cronies.
 
Turning Nigeria around will not depend on our senior citizens. How technologically adept are these citizens? The world functions today on technology, and it evolves so fast the older generations can barely keep up with pace of progress. Our children do everything, and I mean everything, on and with computers. Pray, how is the customs’ boss going to do that? To streamline a lot of agencies, you need the technology that the rest of the world functions with, not the antiquated paper-pushing we are used to. Time has moved on!
 
We appreciate that Mr. President can only relate to those he trusts and, as such may favor the older generation. We acknowledge that you can't trade experience for youthful exuberance; but, please realize that most Nigerians are below 50 years old. From revised 2012 World Population Prospects, the total population was 159,708,000 in 2010. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 44.0%; 53.2% was between 15 and 65 years of age; and only 2.7% was 65 years or older.
 
We must also accept that it is hard to make provisions for people you do not understand. It is time to put square pegs in square holes; not force in circular pegs. Let us recognize the younger generations and give them some leaders that understand their needs and the way forward!
 
Nigeria is a multiethnic, multicultural, and secular country. It behooves Mr. President to learn -- yes learn — how to straddle it. He must balance religion with culture and, yes, ethnicity. He promised change, and change he must deliver. Corruption by his generational peers has brought Nigeria to its knees; maybe, just maybe, the younger generation (plus women and all honest persons from all geopolitical zones) will bring the desired salvation.
 
Finally, it will be a mistake for Mr. President to think he can do it all alone. Nigeria is way too big and complex. Nigeria's leadership needs calls for collegiality and purposeful leadership with the president as fulcrum and pivot on which good governance will revolve. It is a smart and wise person that recognizes his or her potentials as well as limitations. Of the latter, we all should know when not to stretch it.

sauce

The female folk except(Inec fatima )are basically deeemed unqualified by the daura high chief.courtesy-his religion.

This woman is more intelligent than the president.

Change was promised, change was delivered kawai.
Whats all this dogon turenchi?
The insolence of this writer to think that she knows more than her grandfather's age mate.

Is better to have good Nigeria than gender balance for those who think in between the lines.

OVI75:
The female folk except(Inec fatima )are basically deeemed unqualified by the daura high chief.courtesy-his religion.

not only his religion, but his intellect

There's a big difference between female leaders and female looters as we experienced in the previous administration.