(Dr Betta Edu with President Bola Tinubu)
– We will take APC message directly to women — door-to-door, household-to-household, market-to-market and community-to-community – Dr. Betta Ed
(Nigeria’s Dr. Betta Edu, former Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation)
By Biola Lawal
FLOWERBUDNEWS: The Director of Women Mobilisation of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Edu has pledged to lead women grassroots mobilisation across the South-East ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, during the recent flag-off of the distribution of empowerment items to women across the South-East, Dr. Betta Edu said that once the campaign was fully activated, she would return to take the APC message directly to women — door-to-door, household-to-household, market-to-market and community-to-community.
Dr. Edu, a young and highly respected philantropist, is Nigeria’s former Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation)
Commenting on Dr. Edu’s declared resolve,
Hon. Amb. Mary Manzo, the
Special Adviser to the Governor of Taraba State on Tourism and Human Capital Development; Entrepreneur; noted that, determination, such as being displayed by Dr. Edu “is precisely the kind of grassroots engagement political mobilisation requires.”
Amb. Manzo, who is the YES4APC Leader; an Advocate for Environmental Sustainability, and Women’s Development Champion, stated: “across the world, political history teaches us a vital lesson: when women organise and take ownership of a cause, their impact can extend far beyond the ballot box.
She noted Dr. Edu’s capabilities, saying: Emerging at just 35 as the youngest National Women Leader of the APC, and securing more than 2,600 votes at the party’s 2022 national convention, she demonstrated considerable experience in women’s organisation and grassroots mobilisation.”
Amb. Manzo said that “public figures can encounter difficult chapters in their careers, but those chapters should not automatically erase every capability, experience or contribution they have demonstrated.”
“Assessment requires fairness, accountability and perspective,” Amb. Manzo stressed, adding: “women should not have to be perfect before they are allowed to lead. They must be accountable, certainly, but they should also be allowed to learn, rebuild and contribute.”
Amb. Manzo noted that as “Nigeria approaches another major political cycle, women will be key communicators, organisers, candidates, strategists and community mobilisers.”
“The conversation surrounding figures such as Dr Betta Edu, therefore, is also about whether Nigeria is prepared to recognise, develop and utilise the proven mobilisation capacity of its women,” Amb. Manzo stated.
“As a woman, entrepreneur, former diplomat and advocate for women’s development, I believe strongly that we need more women prepared to enter the arena, build bridges and create opportunities for the next generation,” Amb. Manzo said.
She said that when women lead, younger women see possibilities, adding: “when experienced women mobilise, communities become more engaged.”
Amb. Manzo said further that “when a nation gives capable women room to rise, learn and contribute, the nation expands its pool of leadership.”
Delving into history, Amb. Manzo said:
“across the world, political history teaches us a vital lesson: when women organise and take ownership of a cause, their impact can extend far beyond the ballot box.
“From Britain’s Women2Win and Labour Women’s Network to grassroots political movements in the United States, India and Africa, organised women have consistently built networks, mentored leaders, mobilised communities and contributed to political and national development.”
She noted that history offered powerful example, recalling: in Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings used the 31st December Women’s Movement to organise and empower women at grassroots level and was part of the team that helped build the National Democratic Congress, mobilising grassroots support ahead of its 1992 electoral victory.
“In Europe, Angela Merkel led Germany’s CDU/CSU to its strongest federal election result since 1990 in 2013. In the United States, Stacey Abrams helped build voter-registration and grassroots networks that were widely credited with contributing to Democratic victories in Georgia in 2020.
“And in India, Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress made women’s mobilisation a significant part of their successful 2021 West Bengal campaign.”
“The lesson is simple: mobilisation is leadership. It requires energy, resilience, organisation and the ability to connect high-level policy with ordinary people,” Amb. Manzo declared, adding; “regardless of political affiliation, that experience matters.”
“Today, that experience is once again being put to work” through Dr. Betta Edu, Amb. Manzo declared.
She urged for more recognition of women mobilisation potentials, saying: “the strength of women to mobilise and position governance to the nation” should be fully harnessed
Amb. Manzo said: “when women mobilise, nations take notice.” (FLOWERBUDNEWS)
About Flowerbudnews
Established by Hon. Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), FLOWERBUDNEWS is a consortium of active veteran journalists, experienced Multimedia broadcast experts and image makers.
We are drawn from both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry with a common determination to enhance the practice of responsible journalism..
Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.
Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars. He was an outstanding NAN Defence and War Correspondent for many years.
The retired NAN Acting Boss holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency.
As ECOMOG Press Secretary, Biola Lawal served late Maj.Gen. Rufus Kupolati, Late. Maj.-Gen. Ishaya Bakut and (briefly), late Brig.-Gen. Idowu Adetunji Olurin. In his second tenure, he served late Lt.-Gen. Victor Malu.
He is a Co-Author of the book; ECOMOG, A BOLD ATTEMPT AT REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING! Edited Mrs Magaret Vogt. The book remains the most. factual, detailed and authentic naration on the ECOWAS sponsored ECOMOG Military operation.