Folasade Olujide is a businesswoman and budding politician. A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), she contested the position of Deputy National Youth Leader at the party’s national convention in 2018. She currently coordinates the activities of the Progressive Young Women in the State of Osun. In this interview with OSUN
DEFENDER, she speaks on the role of young women in politics and nation-building.
Excerpts: T
ell us the idea behind Progressive Young Women?
Progressive Young Women is a group made up of young women within the largest party in Africa, the All Progressives Congress. The movement, as the name implies, is a convergence of young and vibrant women in the party who seek to enhance the participation of women, especially those of us who are up-starters, in politics. We are out to awaken the consciousness of young women on the importance of their role in societal development, so as to make them see reasons why they need to contribute their quotas to the development of our great nation, through involvement in political process.
As I said earlier, women are vital in politics. The older generation of women politicians has done a lot of work regarding promotion of women’s political inclusion; as youngsters full of energy, we can also add to what they have achieved.
There is no gainsaying the fact that young people will surely take over the mantle of leadership of this nation someday. This is why it is of immense importance that we have young women across all fields in politics. We want to show them that they can also join us and add value to the system. Young women in our country are successful, resourceful, brilliant, intelligent and savvy. We hope they can bring into the political space their noble ideas for the betterment of our fatherland.
What does it take to be a part of the Progressive Young Women?
It is simple. Anybody that wants to join the group should take part in the ongoing membership registration cum revalidation exercise of the All Progressives Congress in her ward and join us. Very soon, we will make public our contact platforms for the group in the state so as to enable direct contact.
Are you satisfied with the current rate of women inclusion in governance?
We had been grappling with the challenge of low representation of the womenfolk in governance long before the APC took over at the centre. Presently, we have more women holding key positions in the federal cabinet and even at the state level. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun believes so much in our ability to perform and even do better than our male counterparts. There is, however, always room for improvement.
There is this perception that politics is a game for men. Do you think there is room for the womenfolk to fulfill their potentials in politics in the face of the male domination?
Yes. Politics is not a tea party, but I must say that the womenfolk can always fulfill their potentials in politics. We now have quite a number of women as local government chairmen, commissioners, appointees, ministers and so on. There is nothing hindering anyone from reaching her zenith if you play the game by its rules and you are committed to the cause. It is a fact that women are always subjected to all forms of challenges, but it is very possible for all women to attain their political goals if they are dedicated, loyal and resilient.
Aside canvassing for young women to join the APC, what other advocacies do you do?
We are poised to help young women develop the skills required to excel in politics and in life generally. We will also educate even older women on the imperatives of political participation. We will work hard to ensure that women benefit in no small measure from initiatives that will better their lots, and will play the role of providing the required support to our leaders, both male and female.
Osun is a state with large population in the rural areas, how are you planning to extend this to the grassroots?
We are surely working on that. Very soon, our advocacy will be taken to rural communities across the state serving as an avenue for them to be aware about the group. We are looking to get this done in the shortest possible time.
What is your advice for young women; especially those who seek to participate in politics but are exercising restrain?
There is the need for young women to be in politics. We cannot sit in our homes, offices and places of business condemning those in power without trying to contribute to nation-building. We should stand up and rise as young women to take our rightful place in the scheme of things by joining the party en-masse and demanding more women inclusion in governance, as well as join hands with the leadership of the country to move our society forward.
