₦airaland Forum

In the field of politics, women are beginning to emerge as forces to be reckoned with in several countries around the world. However, assessing gender equality goes beyond the realm of politics. Here's our look at key events in 2015 in Nigeria and our assessment of whether or not they pushed for gender equality in the country, or not.

The VAPP Bill
On the 25th of May 2015, former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, signed the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Bill into law. The act prohibits all forms of violence against persons in public and private life. It seeks to protect vulnerable persons in the country from persecution and victimization, particularly women and children. After several years of activism by the civil society, the bill was first presented to the House of Representatives in May 2002, the Bill on Violence Against Women became a Bill on Violence Against Persons in 2008 when it was harmonized with 8 other Bills on gender-based violence in the National Assembly. Although it took seven years for the bill to become law, it shows the Nigerian society seeks to protect women from violence directed at them disproportionately, exhibiting concern towards the future of its citizens who are considered most vulnerable.

Score - YES

President Buhari's appointment of women within his administration
Muhammadu Buhari officially assumed the position of president of Nigeria in May 2015. Before this, he promised to implement the National Gender Policy which recommends 35 percent affirmative action in favor of women to bridge gender gaps in political representation in both elective and appointive posts at all levels by 2015. However, he failed to fulfill his promise as he appointed just three women into these positions, amounting to a mere 15 percent as opposed to the recommended percentage.

The poor representation of women in President Buhari's cabinet suggests that the president does not have as much faith in the abilities of women as he claimed to after being raised by his grandmother. This may indicate a step backward for the country as the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan, had a cabinet with 33 percent of women by 2013.

Nigerians have, in the past, expressed some faith in the capability of women occupying key positions in government. Against the backdrop of the 2015 International Women’s Day celebrated on the 8th of March, NOIPolls conducted a poll to gauge the perception of Nigerians on Women in Governance.

The poll revealed that more female (70 percent) than male (53 percent) Nigerians appreciate the idea of women contesting for political positions in the country to a very large extent. Analysis by geo-political zone revealed that the South-East zone (70 percent) accounted for the largest proportion of Nigerians who support the idea of women contesting for political positions in Nigeria to a very large extent. In addition, respondents aged 61 years and above showed the highest level of support for women contesting for political positions.

Score - NO

Film making
2015 was a landmark year for several women in the film industry, new ventures became laudable successes. Take Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji for instance, this year she produced her own movie, Road to Yesterday.

Also, Stephanie Okereke-Linus produced, Dry, which was centered on the effects of child marriage resulting in Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF). Dry went on to win a 2015 Best of Nollywood award for the best social message, due to the awareness on VVF it created.

Everyone knows Mo Abudu is the Queen of chat, she has been able to navigate her way through hosting a talk show, Moments with Mo, as well as launching African entertainment television, EbonyLife Tv. This year, EbonyLife Tv produced Fifty, a movie set in Lagos, Nigeria, focused on women and their lifestyles. Themes surrounding love and lust, faith and reason, reality and obsession, power and vulnerability, wisdom and youth, were all explored in the film. Fifty was the only movie selected from Nigeria (and one of only five films from the entire continent of Africa) from the 238 films selected globally for screening at the 2015 British Film Institute London Film Festival. Also, the movie, Fifty will be featured on Netflix to over 65 million global audiences in 50 countries from December 28, 2015.

Score - YES

Finish reading on Ventures Africa http://vnt.rs/solr3

OP, is the rasta(in pix) also a woman?
www.nairaland.com/attachments/3237647_1_iretioladoyleomoniobolimoabudubiyibandeledakoreakandenseikpeetimfiftythemovieonobello_jpega7a0f5435fc009c6e5240a213c2fc559

See as the woman con give Osama almost 360• hug wey she no dey give her husband baba chukwudi

teufelein:
compare and contrast; ijaw woman wallowing in crude oil and fulani women enjoying the fruits of her labour. what a beautiful/wonderful life?

https://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm23/ithinkbetter/7262ee848ad4be9285eb5b89318a0bfb.jpg

jesu!