The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has asked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to appoint more women to his cabinet.

NAWOJ, in a press statement, said the inclusion of women in government will promote gender equality, fairness and good governance.

The statement signed by the NAWOJ chairperson, Tola Gbadamosi, and its secretary said democracy cannot be completely entrenched until women are included in the electoral process and governance.

“In line with the IWD theme of the year: ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ the women journalists emphasised that if the governor appoints more women, it will promote gender equality, fairness and inclusion.

“The association also suggested that there must be women’s economic empowerment, recruiting, retaining and developing female talent, helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health, involving women and girls in sustainable agriculture and food security as well as providing women and girls with access to quality education and training,” the statement said.

NAWOJ urged the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the economic disparities, which persist between men and women globally, are phased out by making commitments to promote gender equality and inclusion.

The group also stressed the need for the government to, as a matter of urgency, expand childcare places for working parents and support private members’ bills to make changes to employment laws to favour women.

It condemned the discrimination against women, calling on all organisations, groups, and individuals to play their part to ensure women are adequately included in the decision-making process.