ASHENEWS reports that women leaders and advocacy groups have intensified calls for special seats for women in the Parliament of Nigeria, emphasizing the need for institutional support to boost female political participation.
At a consultative meeting organized by the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in collaboration with UN Women and Engage Diaspora Foundation, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to increasing women’s representation in governance.
The Director General of MBNCWD, Hon. (Dr.) Asabe Vilita Bashir, highlighted the importance of collaboration in achieving gender-inclusive governance.
She acknowledged the contributions of partners such as the Canadian Government, UN Women, Women in Politics Forum, and the Nigerian Women League of Voters, stressing that women must be at the center of decision-making.
“This meeting provides a platform to explore strategies that will increase women’s political representation. We must harness our collective expertise and resources to ensure gender equity in governance,” Bashir stated.
President of Women in Governance (WiG), Mrs. Opeyemi Aisha Oni, emphasized the need for legislative reforms, grassroots mobilization, and public awareness to advance women’s participation in leadership.
She called for a strong push to achieve 35 per cent affirmative action and the establishment of special seats for women in parliament.
“When women lead, societies flourish. We need deliberate policies, strategic mentorship, and strong institutional support to place more women in decision-making roles,” Oni said.
Key action points from the meeting included engagement with political parties, traditional leaders, and electoral bodies to promote women’s visibility in politics.
Participants also stressed the importance of mentoring young women, securing male allies for gender advocacy, and establishing media partnerships to amplify the campaign.
Stakeholders agreed that MBNCWD should lead the advocacy for increased female representation, working with the legislature to institutionalize frameworks supporting affirmative action and gender-sensitive policies.
The meeting concluded with a call for immediate action, with women leaders pledging to mobilize support at the grassroots level and push for constitutional reforms to secure dedicated seats for women in parliament.
