Victor EzejaNobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of Malawi, Joyce Banda and ex-Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Elizabeth Clark, have extolled the contributions of Dr Oby Ezekwesili to struggles for women’s inclusion in political leadership and economic policies for good governance, as she marks her 60th birthday.
The trio joined a symposium held on Thursday as part of events to mark the diamond birthday of the Nigeria’s former Minister of Education.
The pre-birthday symposium was organised by the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG), Nigeria; Vital Voices, Washington DC; and Women Political Leaders, Brussels in Germany.
The conversation also enlisted the participation of Alyse Nelson of Vital Voices and Silvana Koch-Mehrin, Founder and President of Women Political Leaders.
Speaking at the symposium titled “Accelerators of Women Political Leadership” held virtually, Johnson-Sirleaf, who served as the 24th president of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, lauded Dr Ezekwesili for her noble role in advancing the welfare of women, especially in political leadership in various capacities that she had served globally.
She noted that Ezekwesili as an activist had played a significant role in motivating young women not only in Nigeria but across the continent of Africa.
She enjoined other women to follow in the footsteps of Ezekwesili, whom she described as a woman with uncommon courage and resilience.
Also speaking at the symposium, Banda, who served as the president of Malawi from April 2012 to May 2014, recalled that when Ezekwesili served as her adviser, she offered solid advice that enabled her government overcome a series of challenges relating to her being a woman leading a nation.
Speaking on women’s participation in political leadership, Banda stressed that they need to be actively involved in every stage of the governance process. She said that being an educator and an activist, she was deeply connected with the people at the grassroots.
Banda had served as vice president and later became the president of Malawi when President Bingu wa Mutharika died in 2012.
While recounting her experience on attempts to prevent her from becoming the president of the Southeast African nation, because she is a woman, Banda disclosed that she used her international network of contacts to push for due process to be followed as those at the corridors of power were making efforts to appoint someone else to take over against what the constitution of the country stipulated.
She, therefore, advised women aspiring to political leadership to build an international network, adding that it helped her foil every attempt to prevent her from emerging as president.
“It is very important and I advise women that are aspiring to be political leaders in the future to build an international network; to have vital voices, ex-presidents, defence people, and others that would stand by you,” Banda advised.
She urged political leaders generally to always reach out to their subjects and know their needs.
Helen Clark said the value of having women in political leadership positions cannot be over emphasized, adding that more women really need to be in power, because they have proven to be efficient when given the opportunity.
On her part, Silvana Koch-Mehrin said Ezekwesili “is a true source of inspiration and spring of optimism of knowledge, a role model to so many of us wherever we are in the world.”
She said that WPL, an independent, non-partisan, and not-for-profit foundation that aims to increase both the number and influence of women in political leadership across the world, is honoured to have Dr Ezekwesili as the Chair of its board.
Highlights of the physical event held in Abuja, were musical and poetry presentations, and a conversation by Ezekwesili and alumni of the SPPG.
During the conversation, Ezekwesili, who is celebrating a life of purpose and impact, went down memory lane describing how her parents rallied to give her and other siblings the best value in life, most of which was education.
She remarked that she was able to attain the height she is today because she heeded her father’s words that every created being has a purpose that ought to be achieved.
I focused on Creating Policies to improve quality of teaching and learning as education minister – Ezekwesili
Responding to a question about one of the significant things she did as minister of education, Ezekwesili cited the upgrade of certification of teachers from Grade II to National Certificate in Education (NCE) to improve quality of teaching in basic schools across the country.
Ezekwesili, who is also an advocate or transparency, accountability, and good governance, said she was more focused on creating policies and programmes to improve quality of teaching and learning in the country, not awarding contracts for physical structures in educational institutions.
“When we have quality teachers in classrooms, there is a greater probability that 40 per cent of what happens in learning is determined by quality of teachers; another is determined by teaching method. Not just quality but knowing how to teach. In other words, we started re-professionalizing teaching so that we could create the kind of coaching that teachers needed in order to be effective,” she stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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