Local Government

A former minister of aviation and the founder/chairperson of Women Leadership Institute (WLI), Dr. Kema Chikwe, has underscored the need to remove institutional, economic, cultural and political impediments to women participation in politics.

Dr. Chikwe who spoke in Abuja at the weekend at the inaugural conference and official launch of WLI, reiterated the call for gender mainstreaming to boost women participation in the decision making process.

A group, under the auspices of the Women Leadership Institute (WLI), has designed a curriculum to help neutralise African society’s perception about women’s participation in leadership. 

Barely eight months to the 2019 general election, stakeholders have expressed dismay at the declining rate of women participation in public service.

Speakers at the annual law week of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), at Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos; concluded that there is need to create women caucuses, stressing that that could encourage International Organisations to amplify and recognise the voices of female legislators.

The UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Laure Beaufils, facilitated a brainstorming conversation with a diverse array of Nigeria stakeholders on barriers to women’s participation in politics.

Souad Abderrahim is from Tunisia's moderate Islamic party, which advocates for separating politics from religion.

TUNIS, Tunisia — A woman from Tunisia's moderate Islamic party was elected on Tuesday as mayor of the capital city, Tunis, the first time a woman holds the post.

Political parties should be required to publish details of their election candidates by gender to highlight the "shameful" gap in numbers between men and women, campaigners are arguing.

The Centenary Action Group, which wants equal representation in Parliament, said a lack of information meant it was harder to hold parties to account.

They say ministers are able to force compliance under the 2010 Equality Act.

The 56-year-old had served as environmental secretary under Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador when he was mayor. With Obrador confirmed as winner of the presidential election, it's the first time the two roles have been taken by members of the same party.

In 2014, Sheinbaum left the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and joined Lopez Obrador’s Moreno Party.