Gender advocates say there is a need for the inclusion of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in governance to engender participation in the nation’s development.

They made the call on Thursday in Ibadan at a programme tagged the ‘Inclusive Participation Programme Conversation Series: Governance and Accountability from a Gender Perspective’.

The programme was organised by the Sustainable Gender Action Initiative (SCAI).

One of the lead speakers, Ossai Edem, the African Regional Coordinator of the Network for International Policies and Cooperation in Education and Training (NORRAG), called for improvement in participation.

She also advocated for access to vulnerable groups.

“No society can thrive if any group is left behind in developmental processes of any nation,” Ms Edem said.

She added that it was obvious that persons with disabilities had their share in exclusion during the last general elections, and people with albinism were not left out.

Ms Edem stated that 80 per cent of people with albinism were not allowed to register to vote in Oyo during the last elections.

This was a re-echoing of what one of the participants, who was a researcher on albinism, said at the event.

“For persons with disabilities, the electoral process failed to capture their peculiar needs and challenges that they experienced. And we need to be responsive enough to address the challenges so that they also can vote,” Ms Edem added.

SCAI executive director Mufuliat Fijabi emphasised the need for accountability and inclusion of every group in the society pre-election, during the election and post-election for the nation’s development.

She said many people, especially the women, did nothing pre-election and only waited to lend their voices or raise concerns during the election period, which in most cases was too late.

“The essence of the programme is to ginger action in the citizenry to enable them to be more involved in governance, especially since the end of the 2023 general elections.

“We are now at the pre-election phase to another election in 2027. So, it is not the time for citizens to remain quiet waiting for another election. A time for citizens to be an active player in how policies are designed and shaped and how we make our input to have a better democratic system that respects the rights of everyone.

“And that is inclusive, taking on the needs of the vulnerable groups in the society,” Mr Fijabi said.

Another Conversation Lead and executive director of the Iyamopo Centre for Peace, Women and Youth Development, Sherifat Taleat-Arafat, said women could come together to ensure accountability.

According to her, they can unite and lend their voices to demand their rights and discuss issues with stakeholders to have positive results.

(NAN)