Minister of women affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has launched a flagship campaign, ‘Her Seat in Parliament and Governance’, aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance and decision-making across Nigeria.

The initiative, driven by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), is supported by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR).

Speaking at the event on Thursday in Abuja, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised the crucial role women play in national development.

Represented by her senior special advisor on technical M

Matters, Jummai Idonije, she called for the dismantling of barriers that hindered women’s participation in all sectors.

“This movement has the potential to rally stakeholders to dismantle systemic barriers that have held women back and build a future where our voices not only resonate but shape decisions that determine our nation’s destiny,” Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim said.

She highlighted that in spite of women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in governance remained disproportionately low.

“Women hold only four out of 109 Senate seats and 17 out of 360 House of Representatives seats, with 15 states having no female representation at all.

“It’s a new dawn for Nigerian women, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders to synchronise advocacy efforts, strengthen institutional frameworks, and drive sustainable change,” she noted.

Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, NAWOJ National Chairperson, pledged to use NAWOJ’s platforms to advocate for women’s inclusion in governance.

She expressed optimism that the campaign would help secure the legislative backing for the bill advocating for greater female representation.

“This is a monumental step towards achieving true gender equality in our nation’s governance.

“However, that bill is still hanging,” she said, emphasising the ongoing efforts to engage grassroots support for the cause.

Irene Awunah, president of NILOWV, revealed that the campaign sought to create 74 special seats for women in the federal parliament, further enhancing female representation.

Joseph Ochogwu, director-general of IPCR, reiterated the institute’s strong support for advancing women’s participation in politics, viewing it as vital for national peace and development.

Bassey Ita-Ikpang, NAWOJ FCT chairperson, assured that female journalists would continue to drive media coverage and grassroots engagement to ensure the success of the campaign. 

(NAN)