March 5, 2022

The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Buki Ponle, has said that there is need to have more women in government and in political offices to enhance the country’s development.

He made the call on Friday in Abuja when he received in his office Mr Jake Epelle of the Albinism Foundation.

Nigerian women had on Thursday protested against the rejection of pro-equality bills by the National Assembly.

The women, who converged at the entrance of the National Assembly in Abuja, demonstrated against parliamentary votes which discarded five bills that were meant to grant more autonomy to Nigerian women.

“How can five bills on women be presented to the National Assembly and none sailed through?

“I am not a politician but I will fight for women and children wherever I am. I have a wife, I have daughters and relations who are women. I also have women who have made it in life.

“Wherever we find ourselves on the gender scale, we must prove our mettle and I commend Nigerian women for proving their mettle in all areas of endeavour, not only in politics, but also in the business world.

“I give kudos to women and I will always respect them. A number of them are managing directors and chief executive officers. Many of them are holding forth in international communities,” he said.

The NAN Chief Executive Officer wondered why the role of women should not be recognised in the country.

Ponle, while saying that he was overwhelmed by Epelle’s visit, said the agency would continue to do its best to support the Albinism Foundation.

He said he had been watching Epelle, for almost 20 years on television, adding that though he started modestly, he had been consistent.

“Your passion, commitment and motivational speech are encouraging and worth emulating. I am happy that the meeting point has taken place today and please count on NAN as your second home, our doors are open to you.

“I am so touched by your passion because you have turned what used to be `object` to become a `subject`, talking about albinism,  not only in Nigeria, but all over the world.

“Albinos had no place until you came out and fought for them to be placed on the front burner of development,  that is a great feat and we commend your efforts in that regard.

“We would want to be part and parcel of that development because it is not easy,” Ponle stressed.

Earlier, Epelle said he was in NAN to thank the management for its support over the years and to seek more support and collaboration in the area of giving visibility to issues affecting people with disability.

He commended the agency’s journalists, saying they stood out among their peers at events.

He also praised the agency for standing out in accurate news reporting, adding that NAN had become a credible hub where even foreign media organisations pick news materials on Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world.

“There may be scarcity of funds, but I want to encourage you to please keep doing the work you are doing to the best of your ability.

“I know you have a very profound platform that a lot of people pay for to promote their causes and products.

“Though we cannot afford you because we do most of the work we do out of passion and commitment to a just course. Our work is not funded.

“The components of persons with disability you see on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is championed by us, even though this caused me a lot of issues with members of the National Assembly. We eventually reconciled,” he said.

Epelle also praised President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Act, saying that the community would always remember him for that.

He added that by signing the bill into law, Buhari had written his name in gold and had demonstrated that he was a true democrat.

He similarly commended the president for signing the Electoral Amendment Act Bill into law, saying that he had further demonstrated that he was a father to all, especially the marginalised.

He said that though leaders had their weaknesses, a leader should be praised and commended ones he did something good in certain areas.

“I am not a friend of government and not a politician, but am just saying the obvious truth,” he said.

Epelle thanked NAN managing director for the opportunity to visit and appealed that a special desk be set up and dedicated to people with disability.

On the parliamentary rejection of pro-equality bills, Epelle said women had truly been marginalised.

“We have to stand and speak for them to ensure that they are put in their rightful place.

“Women deserved to be given the chance and persons with disability deserve to be given greater chance because we have been far left behind,” he pointed out. (NAN)