Keep Seats For Women, They Have A Part To Play In Governance – Hon. Edith Nwosu
Hon. Edith Nwosu popularly known as IKUKU OMA is a Humanitarian, Women Rights Advocate, Politician and an accomplished Entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in human and business management. She is the MD/CEO of Sherwood Nigeria Limited, a business development company that provides marketing and consultancy services for companies in engineering, marine, equipment leasing and oil & gas sectors.
She was the Labour Party candidate for Nwangele State Assembly in the 2023 election and the Founder, Edith Nwosu Healthcare Foundation for Children and IKUKU OMA Empowerment Club, two organizations she uses to touch lives and effect positive changes.
In this exclusive interview with Woman Mata Column, the Human Rights Defender dwelt on sundry issues ranging from Women Inclusion, striking a balance in family and career, her political aspirations, her Healthcare Foundation, Empowerment Club and lots more.
Excerpts:
Question:
Recently, women are seen occupying high positions in the banking and other sectors, and even in the corridors of power, do you still feel that Women are being marginalized?
Answer:
Women are very marginalized in this country. The banking sector is just one out of many sectors we have in this country. I must applaud those women who have reached their zenith in the banking sector but there are other sectors where women are under represented like the oil and gas sector, the governance sector, the policy making sector of the country and lots more. As long as women are not occupying many positions in government, women are still highly marginalized. They have to be given a chance. They have to be given enabling environment. Women are few in positions cutting across every sector in the country. I have seen so little of women inclusion in the oil and gas industry. Women should come on board. The space is vast. They should train and develop themselves to reach certain heights.
Question:
With zero female representation in the Imo 10th Assembly, what can be done to achieve gender inclusion in governance?
In Imo State there is no existent women inclusion. A lot can be done. There should be a percentage of women inclusion in different elective positions. Women need to be part of governance and policy making in Imo State. The 35% affirmative action is verbal. There are no foreseeable steps taken to achieve it. Let the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties help to ensure that some positions are reserved for women. Once this is done, many women will be involved politically. Women should be given slots and seats in the House of Assembly and House of Representatives. Women have a part to play in governance. Women political involvement has to be actualized but not just by verbal discussions. Rwanda is the country with the highest number of women in governance. If Rwanda can achieve it, we can also achieve it. Keep the seats for women and see women coming up to make a difference. There are intelligent women in this state and country.
Women should not be given a soft landing. I don’t believe women are the weaker vessels. They should be put toe to toe with the men, you will see them beat some men to occupy elective positions. As long as women know that there are seats that belong to them which must be occupied by them alone, they will do the incredible. You will see women coming out with every requirement and financial capacity that is needed. Give women their seats and see what they can do differently.
Question:
As a family woman, do you think family responsibilities can become obstacles to women active political participation?
Answer:
It cannot be an obstacle. Women should understand that higher goals and higher visions call for higher responsibilities. Men do it, so why can’t women? Women are the bedrock of the home, but they have to understand that they can strike a balance between the home, career and other vocations. But a woman must have a supportive family to be able to succeed. Where there is no supportive family, it will be difficult for one to thrive. A woman should understand that she has the ability to multitask. When she understands this, she can then give time and attention to everything and everyone. When you give everything their due time, you can achieve your goals. Men handle their families, businesses, social responsibilities, so why can’t women? The most important thing is for a woman to have a supportive partner, then politics, work, family and everything must work.
Question:
You are an accomplished Entrepreneur in the Oil and Gas sector, why did you veer into partisan politics?
I needed a platform to be able to interface with my community in order to offer the things I wish to offer to them. The only platform I can use to actualize my wish to the extent I want to do it is the House of Assembly. It will give me the opportunity to be involved in the policy making, in making laws that will affect my community and making a difference for my Constituency. It is then that I can put in place statements, policies and bills that shall affect my generation and generations to come. It will help me to get better life and situations for our children and children’s children. I want to be in a position to make laws that will make the society better and change the cause we have suffered and make it better for our children. I think I will feel very fulfilled. It is at that level that I can effect the change I wish to and give my people hope and a future to be proud of.
Question:
You speak with so much passion for your people, will you re-contest for the Nwangele State Assembly Seat come 2027?
We are watching. What we are advocating for is good governance, value based representation, changing the narratives and effective leadership. We want the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy. Take a look at what is happening in Abia State. Abia State is a perfect example for people to understand that whoever wants to work can work. When you put the right leaders, you will get the right governance. To the extent Nwangele is lacking good governance, is to the extent I will keep struggling to ensure that the right thing is done for Nwangele. That question is in the pipeline.
Question:
You obviously had great plans for Nwangele people as evident in your manifesto during your campaigns at the last election, what other ways can you use to achieve them aside occupying an elective position?
Answer
I have a Healthcare Foundation and I have an Empowerment Club. These are organizations I have set up to use as vehicles to move and drive my vision for Nwangele LGA. This is the way I feel I can continue creating value and giving my people what I think they need, apart from occupying an elective position. IKUKU OMA empowerment club and Edith Nwosu Healthcare Foundation have been used to restore hope, empower many youths and women, support businesses, assist many people and I intend to do more. My Foundation and Empowerment Club are grass rooted and meant for the core vulnerable men and women in our rural communities. That is the hope I want to give them. I have made a lot of impact without being in government. I don’t need to occupy an elective position before I can touch lives. They say little drops of water make a mighty ocean. The little I have especially in this period where people are crying and hunger is staring at faces, I use to make impact.
I am still creating value with my resources. The only difference with a platform like a political position is that it will put me in a better position to do what I wish to do in a bigger way, better way and larger scale. Nevertheless, I am still pushing. One month after my election, I carried out a medical outreach and gave over three hundred women medicated glasses and drugs. Being in a political position could afford me all it takes to reach out to over two thousand women, but I will not stop doing the much I can with the little I have. Aside from holding a position, I will still continue using these two organizations I have set up to do my best for my people.
Question:
Many people are of the opinion that your Foundation, Empowerment Club and Different Projects are politically motivated?
My foundation was set up in 2018. This is who I am. I didn’t know I was going to veer into politics when I was establishing my foundation. I was in Abba, my village with close to 22 member medical team in 2020. There was no politics then. I established IKUKU OMA Empowerment Club to give young men and women in Nwangele the opportunity to do that which they want to do for themselves. It is a vehicle I wish to use to help the youths to actualize their dreams. My Foundation has carried out many projects for my people even before I joined politics. It is not for political gains. When you are using your finances to help people, all you look forward to is an avenue to get support from government or organizations so that you can enlarge and do more. Your love for what you are doing will help you to seek partnership to do more. I see Politics as a vehicle for me to use and do greater good for my people. If I don’t achieve a political position, I will still continue to do good for my people in my own capacity. Little by little, I will cover the whole of Nwangele and still create the value I intended for veering into politics.
My medical outreaches have catered for over 3000 patients across the South south and south eastern part of Nigeria, focusing mainly on improving healthcare standards, especially the eradication of the number one childhood killer disease – malaria.
Through my foundation, I have trained people in different entrepreneurship skills, conducted free medical outreaches across the South South & South East with my team of medical professionals. I am not relenting. I will do more.
Question:
You are always coming up with different packages that benefit Nwangele people, what do we expect from you next?
Answer:
Yesterday I did a project where I gave out 200,000 to 20 vulnerable women to celebrate the Easter season. My next project is in the pipeline. My projects come to me as inspirations geared towards meeting the immediate needs of a given time. What people need at every moment is what inspires me to embark on any project. Those that are following our projects can attest to the fact that because of the economic situation of the country, I am stepping back a bit on healthcare projects, medical outreaches and I am concentrating on empowerment and support funds for my people. I am concentrating on financial supports now because that is what the period is bringing. If there is a wind of change before the end of the year, I will also change my projects to suit the time and meet the needs of the season. I can’t be specific. It can only be said that Hon. Edith Nwosu will always find a way to bring succour to her people.
Question:
What is your advice to young girls who are trying to find their footings in life?
Answer:
A woman should be value oriented. She should create value to her existence and understand that she is not the weaker vessel as she is called. As a lady, shift your mentality from the stereotyped way women are looked at. See yourself as a force with the capacity of achieving what ever you want to achieve. That mindset is what will propel you to achieve your dreams. You need to have a mindset of winning and of value. You are in this world to place value in whatever you are doing. If you want to sell garri, place value on that garri you are selling and understand that you are the best garri seller in this country. One key to making impact is consistency. Have in mind where you are going and be consistent. Personally, consistency has taken me a very long way. Any story of success you hear about, you will hear a story of consistency. If you believe in something, stay there, don’t shift, give it your best and you must succeed. Place value on yourself and everything you wish to achieve. Your value will move you to achieve success.
Question:
What can a young woman bring “to the table”?
A woman can bring everything to the table. For me, beauty alone is trash. It doesn’t make any sense. Your beauty must be added to your brain for you to bring something to the table of excellence. There is more to being a woman than being just beautiful. A lot of women have misplaced priority.
Women should carve their niche. Discover your gifts and potentials. Don’t follow the crowd, be exceptional in your field. Develop capacity in that field. If you want to sell ice block, sell it exceptionally and uniquely. Do not be afraid to move, move with vision and accelerate Progress.
