Folashade Olabanji-Oba, a member of the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, has called for greater inclusion of women in governance for national development.

Ms Olabanji-Oba made the call in Lagos on Monday.

She said women possess the competence, leadership qualities, and capacity required to contribute meaningfully to governance at all levels.

“Women have consistently demonstrated resilience, integrity, and the ability to deliver results whenever they are given the opportunity to serve,” she said.

According to her, increasing women’s representation in elective and appointive positions would promote inclusive governance and strengthen democratic institutions.

“When women are adequately represented in government, policies become more balanced, responsive, and reflective of the needs of the entire population,” she said.

She urged political parties, government institutions, and other stakeholders to create a level playing field for women seeking leadership positions.

“There should be deliberate policies that encourage and support women to contest elections and occupy strategic positions in the public service,” she said.

Ms Olabanji-Oba encouraged women to develop themselves through education, leadership training, and active participation in community development initiatives.

“Women should not wait to be invited into leadership; they should prepare themselves, build capacity, and confidently take up leadership responsibilities,” she said.

She expressed optimism that Nigeria would record greater progress if more qualified women were entrusted with leadership responsibilities across all sectors.

“The future of our nation depends on harnessing the talents and contributions of both men and women. Inclusive governance is the foundation for sustainable development,” she said.

She commended the Lagos State government for providing opportunities for women to serve in key positions and urged other states to emulate such initiatives.

“Lagos has continued to demonstrate that empowering women in governance strengthens institutions and improves service delivery. This example should be replicated across the country,” she said.

(NAN)