From Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
A gender and social inclusion advocate, Hajiya Halima Mahdi, has expressed concern over what she described as the persistent gap between the widespread advocacy for inclusiveness and its practical implementation, saying women, youths and persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain underrepresented in governance and decision-making.
Speaking in an interview, Mahdi said although governments and public institutions frequently emphasise inclusiveness, the principle is yet to be fully reflected in appointments, policymaking and the execution of public programmes.
She noted that true inclusiveness requires deliberate efforts to ensure that every segment of society is fairly represented and given equal opportunities to contribute to governance and development, regardless of gender, age or physical ability.
According to her, the continued exclusion of women, young people and persons with disabilities from key leadership and decision-making positions undermines the essence of inclusive governance and deprives society of the valuable contributions these groups can make.
Mahdi stressed that sustainable development and good governance can only be achieved when governments embrace diversity and create an enabling environment that promotes equal participation for all citizens.
She urged political leaders and policymakers to move beyond public declarations by implementing policies that guarantee equitable representation and meaningful participation of marginalised groups in governance
The advocate also called for greater commitment from public institutions to eliminate barriers that hinder the inclusion of vulnerable groups, adding that inclusive governance should be measured by practical actions rather than policy statements.
She maintained that building a just and prosperous society requires collective efforts to ensure that no group is left behind, urging those in authority to demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusiveness through transparent appointments, equal opportunities and policies that reflect the interests of all citizens.