In line with the need for the inclusion of women and youths at all levels of Nigeria’s democratic process, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) thursday announced the formation of the CNM Youth Forum and the Women’s Forum.
CNM’s Director of Media and Public Communications, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, said in a statement that the two fora were created to enable the active inclusion of the youths and women, and also genuinely integrate them in the democratic process and position them for leadership positions across the country.
To steer the affairs of both forums, Osuntokun said the two ad-hoc steering committee’s had been constituted to work closely with women and youths across the country to achieve an altruistic integration of women and youths in the country’s democratic process.
Osuntokun listed their terms of reference to include: “to explore the role of the family, the community, religious and educational bodies and the state in actively preparing young people and women for leadership; identify and analyse the place of youths and women in political, economic and socio-cultural affairs and their role in enabling social integration among the various ethnic, religious and cultural divides; explore the problems and causative factors that presently affect Nigerian youths and women, which hinder their effective integration in leadership positions and the democratic process; develop a holistic approach to addressing problems identified and assiduously proffer durable solutions to them,” he explained.
According to him, they are also required to come up with a strategic report, which will be adopted by the coalition as part of its key agenda, after an inclusive dialogue with youths and women across the country.
“The committees shall also explore collaborative partnerships with private sector and civil society organisations for the purpose of empowering youths and women to actively fit into their rightful place in the build up to the forthcoming elections and subsequently integrate them in leadership positions at all levels of government,” he added.
According to Osuntokun, the members of the adhoc steering committee of the Youth Forum include Shehu M. Bello, who is the chairman; Seyi Adigun; Abubarkar Sadiq; Abayomi Olaleye; Josephine Owuye; Mary Manzo and Jasmine Onyia
He also listed the members of the ad hoc Steering committee of the Women’s Forum to include Mrs. Victoria Oviasogie as Chairman, Mrs. Rita Anigbogu, Mrs. Bunmi Adeleye-Ogwuche, Hajia Safiya Muazu, Dr. Tope Olaifa, Mr. Monsurat Omotosho and Ms Rakiya Abba.