Women in Politics: NILOWV calls for Female participation in Nigeria

Report by Gabriel Ameh, The Legit News

The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) is taking giant steps to improve the representation of women in governance and politics.
This call was the centerpiece of the organization’s Annual General Meeting, held in Abuja, under the theme: “Women in Governance and Politics: Strategic Pathways to Leadership.”

The event which took place on 19th October 2024 in Abuja attracted key stakeholders from government, civil society, and women’s rights organizations, all poised towards strategizing to elevate women in leadership positions.

Speaking as a guest Speaker at the event, Hon Irene Awunah Ikyegh President NILOWV in her keynote address, states that this journey requires boldness, collaboration, and unwavering commitment.

“We must be purposeful in building networks for mentorship, striving for gender quotas in political parties, and strengthening women with the skills necessary to lead effectively” She opined.

Irene further reiterates that NILOWV is committed to making positive impact, that will empower women to participate in leadership in governance.

“The NILOWV annual general meeting is geared towards bringing to lamplight the future of women participation in Nigeria’s politics.

“Collectively, the future is certain when all hands are on deck”. She stressed.

She emphasized that NILOWV is committed to taking these discussions forward by partnering with government institutions and civil society organizations to develop policies that will create more opportunities for women in politics.

She highlighted that only 4.17% of seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly are currently held by women, which is the lowest rates in Africa and therefore called for greater women participation and representation in politics and governance.

This figure, drawn from the most recent parliamentary elections, underscores the stark gender disparity in governance, where out of 469 seats in both the Senate and House of Representatives, only 20 are occupied by women. Comparatively, countries like Rwanda and South Africa boast female representation rates of over 40%, demonstrating the pressing need for reforms in Nigeria’s political landscape. She added

Speaking with The Legit News correspondent at the event on the challenges facing women in Politics, Hon. Irene disclosed despite some progress in advancing gender equality, women in Nigerian politics continue to face challenges, including cultural barriers, limited access to resources, and systemic discrimination within political parties.

In addressing these challenges, she stated that changing societal attitudes is critical to addressing these challenges. “We dimensional shift in cultural approach because the role of women in leadership is not only accepted but actively promoted.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the NILOWV FCT Chairperson HE. Cesnabmihilo Dorothy Nuhu-Aken’Ova, emphasize the urgency to close the gender gap in political leadership in Nigeria.

“Women constitute almost half of Nigeria’s population, yet poor representation in political offices remains abysmally low.

We must change the status quo and create new pathways for women to be more actively involved in Nigeria’s politics.

The meeting featured a series of panel discussions and workshops that outlined several key strategies for achieving greater female participation in politics.

Panelists emphasized the importance of establishing mentorship networks that connect aspiring female politicians with experienced leaders who can guide them through the complexities of governance.

Another significant point raised was the need for political parties to adopt gender quotas while participants argued that mandating a percentage of female candidates within party structures could significantly boost women’s representation at all levels of government.

In her closing remarks, Hon.Irene said that the importance of unity among women cannot be over emphasized.

United We stand in bringing women in government leadership positions must be involving in our voice, trust and commitments to service. She added.

As NILOWV continues its advocacy, the call for greater female representation in Nigerian politics remains a top priority, with the goal of achieving gender parity in the near future.