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By ACHADU GABRIEL, Kaduna
All is now set to ensure collective decision of Nigerians to endorse
a woman as running mate and vice presidential candidate of the winning political party come 2023, based on global agitations and trends.
The reasons in championing the movement is not far fetched. For decades, the women folk in Nigeria are believed to have been deprived and marginalised politically.
Today, the story is changing as women have reasoned collectively that the best time for them to be consider in the mainstream politics is now, especially when it comes to sharing political offices.
Taking a retrospective look at the just concluded primaries of the major political parties in the country and the calibre of individuals that contested, only one woman in the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC), attempted to get the presidential ticket even though she later stepped down along the way for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who’s currently the flagbearer of the party.
While the controversy on who becomes the running mate of the presidential candidate rages on, the clamour is, no doubt, in favor of a woman of substance, honour and distinction to be chosen as a running mate, Chief Dr. (Mrs) Augusta Ngozi Agbasionwe.
Born on the November 17, 1960, Chief Dr (Mrs) Augusta Ngozi Agbasionwe who hails from Awkuzu/Nando, in Anambra State, has over the years, dedicated her life to the service of humanity.
Speaking in a recent interview, Dr. Augusta Ngozi said, “I am a native of Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria. I am married to Pharmacist Pius Agbasionwe of Nando in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State and I have six children. As a Nigerian, I am seeking a position that will enable me to utilize my versatility”, she said.
To keen observers of political happenings in Nigeria, right from the advent of this democratic dispensation, women who were appointed to serve in political offices have performed excellently, often times to the admiration or even envy of their male counterparts.
Therefore, it has become imperative to beam searchlight on respectful, acceptable and productive women, such as Dr, Augusta Ngozi when looking for who can be the running mate and ultimately, become a Vice President that can perform the expected supporting role to the President.
With her exemplary experience; vision and knowledge of things, engendering positive change and development, it is generally believed that when Dr Augusta Ngozi assumes office as vice-president of Federal Republic of Nigeria, things will turn out for better.
Dr. Augusta who started the pursuit of education at the St. Raphael Primary School, Awkuzu between 1971-1974, later proceeded to Girls High School Nnewi (former Maria Regina), got her WASC from 1974-1979.
At the Teacher’s Training College Ogbunike, she was trained as a qualified teacher and was awarded the Teachers’ Grade 2 certificate in 1981-1982.
Her quest for further education took her to the Anambra College of Education Awka/Nsugbe where she got the NCE between 1988-1992. Augusta traveled overseas to Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus for the Associate Degree in Conflict resolution and mediation in 1996-1997.
She also attended the Brooklyn College, City University of New York and bagged a BA and MS in Education from1997-2000. Dr Augusta Ngozi capped it all at the West Virginia State University where she bagged her PHD Honorary Award in 2002.
Speaking on her skills and some of her positive impact on the Nigerian society, Dr Ngozi explained that she is knowledgeable in the field of customer relationship management, team building and leadership, strategic planning, operations and organizational effectiveness; mission fulfillment, community outreach and advocacy.
Based on this high profile curriculum vitae and personal data, the call on all the presidential candidates to zero in and pick two women as their running mates, as a sign of true change is what Nigeria deserves now.
“There can never be a mother in the house and the children go hungry. A mother hen is naturally protective of it chicks, the future of Nigeria is at stake and the need to include women at top positions cannot be overemphasized”, she said.
“Angela Mackel of Germany stabilized the world and so did other women like Mrs Helen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia who led her country out of civil war as well as other strong powerful women. The list goes on continuously till we can find no space to write. Dr. Augusta Ngozi should be giving the chance to write her name in gold.”