Nigeria

Adamawa State deputy governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, has highlighted the growing need for female leadership to bring about significant change in Nigeria’s political landscape.

On March 14, 2024, rural women from communities in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria expressed concerns over women’s low inclusion in politics. The women lamented neglect and financial constraints as problems in assessing political and leadership positions. The outcome of the 2023 general elections is evidence of low women’s political leadership representation. The low participation of women in political leadership results in less development for the nation since not all capable human resources are utilised.

Women Aid Collective (WACOL) has charged political party executives to rally support for women participating in politics.

This was as the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) said it has empowerment about 18 political parties to sensitise stakeholders and community members on the need for women participation in politics.

Concerned stakeholders across the globe have commenced advocacies for improved participation and involvement of women in politics in Nigeria.

The stakeholders including UN women, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and some female politicians in Ebonyi State argued that Nigeria tends to grow better when a sizeable number of females are included in governance.

The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has declared that democracy cannot be considered complete when women are excluded from policy-making processes.

This assertion was made by the Director-General of NILDS, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, during the 2024 Gender and Inclusion Summit organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC).

The Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs Lara Edeko has urged women to participate in politics in order to contribute towards good leadership and nation building.

Edeko made the call in Benin, the state capital while speaking at the University of Benin Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference.

In a deliberate effort to encourage more women to pursue leadership roles, WILAN Global is set to launch a documentary on women, who contested elections into various offices in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections.

The documentary, which premieres on Channels Television on August 31, will delve into the compelling stories of women who participated in the last general elections.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, has emphasised the need for greater inclusion of women in politics and governance, acknowledging their crucial role in the country’s socio-economic development.