A former presidential aspirant in the Nigerian 2023 general elections, Ms Patience Key, has said mentorship for women in politics is required for Nigeria to achieve 35 per cent affirmative action.

Affirmative action is a policy that demands that 35 per cent of women be involved in all governance processes.

Ms Key, a former chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) USA, made the call in an interview in New York.

“To have 35 per cent representation and more, women who have led and are still in leadership must mentor fellow women. Those that claim to be women advocates must understand their representation as women advocates because many of them put the women down by stating on national TVs that women are not ready for leadership,” Ms Key explained.

She added, “This is worrisome because you cannot be an advocate and a dream killer at the same time. Women should deliberately support other women with capacity and integrity. Women should not believe that they are made to be second-class citizens. We all have a purpose to fulfil, and that should not be decided by a fellow human being, man or woman.”

Ms Key, a presidential aspirant on the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) platform in the 2023 elections, said women should build self-motivation and collective efforts.

She said they should follow their dreams and aspirations without fear or favour but with integrity and respect for the mission they wished to fulfil.

“Women should speak up when concerned, whether for self or collectively, for a better society. Of course, not everyone is called leadership. Those who feel and know their purpose should never relent due to societal ills and discouragement,” Ms Key stated. “When we work towards a goal truthfully and selflessly, we can only achieve success no matter how long it takes.”

She explained that women “have tangible inputs to offer not just because they have godfathers” or because they have learned the negative skills to manipulate their ways into leadership.

“It’s not also just about gender because I strongly understand the significance of having transformative minds in leadership. Women should aspire for leadership with the motivation to introduce positive transformation,” she explained. “It becomes a competition when it’s stereotyped. I want to see women handle this as a way of collaboration. Remember that both men and women were carried in pregnancy and delivered by their different mothers who happen to be women figures. Pregnancy happens through collaboration between a man and a woman.”

(NAN)