Gombe Women Agenda Trains Members, Targets Stronger Political Participation

Gombe Women Agenda Trains Members, Targets Stronger Political Participation

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Women in Gombe State have intensified efforts to strengthen their participation in governance, following a one-day internal capacity-building session aimed at preparing members for more active engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The training, organised by the Gombe Women Agenda (GWA), brought participants from across the state together at the NITDA Hall of Gombe State University, where discussions centred on leadership, advocacy, and strategies for improving women’s representation in decision-making processes.

Speaking during the session, the deputy chairperson of the group, Dr. Leah Iliya Jalo, stressed the need for women to recognise their value in society and step forward to take leadership roles. She noted that women remain central to societal development and must build confidence to influence governance outcomes.

“We cannot continue to remain on the sidelines. Empowerment begins with self-awareness and unity,” she said, urging participants to work collectively in advancing shared goals.

The meeting also featured a goodwill message from retired Justice Beatrice L. Iliya, who commended the initiative and described it as a significant step toward strengthening the voice of women in the state.

She called for sustained efforts to break barriers limiting women’s participation across political and socio-economic spaces.

Facilitating a key session, Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf explained that the Gombe Women Agenda is a non-partisan political movement focused on ensuring that women’s interests are prioritised regardless of party affiliations.

He emphasised the importance of holding leaders accountable and encouraged women to move beyond passive observation to active engagement in government.

According to him, the initiative is driven by concerns over the low number of female aspirants and limited political awareness among women, stressing the need for early preparation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Participants also stressed the importance of inclusivity, particularly the involvement of women with disabilities, and called for stronger grassroots mobilisation across the 11 local government areas of the state.

Discussions further underscored the importance of economic empowerment and skills acquisition as critical tools for enhancing women’s independence and participation in public life.

The session outlined key objectives of the agenda, including the development of a Women’s Political Charter, capacity building for female leaders and voters, and the establishment of structures to monitor political commitments to women’s issues.

In her presentation, Dr Jalo identified critical focus areas such as political under-representation, access to healthcare, economic empowerment, and the fight against gender-based violence, noting that coordinated action is required to address systemic challenges facing women.

The meeting concluded with renewed commitment from participants, who pledged to take the message back to their communities and strengthen advocacy for inclusive governance.

The organisers described the session as a major step toward building a unified platform capable of amplifying women’s voices and influencing policy directions in Gombe State.