"They're natural leaders": Campaigners reveal why more Nigerian women should be allowed in politics

• Women marque up astir fractional of Nigeria's population, but stay underrepresented successful politics, prompting a increasing question for sex equality
• Civil nine organisations similar Connected Development (CODE) and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) are starring efforts to propulsion for 35% affirmative enactment and enactment much women leaders
• Despite challenges, campaigners similar Hamzat Lawal are optimistic that the momentum for inclusion volition reshape Nigeria’s governmental landscape

In a federation wherever women marque up astir fractional of the colonisation but clasp a fraction of governmental positions, the conflict for sex equality successful Nigerian politics has ne'er been much urgent—or much hopeful.

Civil nine organisations, notably the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and astir precocious Connected Development (CODE), are championing a caller epoch of pistillate governmental participation, driven by grassroots activism and a increasing nationalist consciousness.

When Women Lead, Nations Rise: Campaigners Fault Nigeria’s Gender Gap successful Power Circles
Source: Getty Images

Nigerian women are earthy leaders - Lawal

In an exclusive interview, Hamzat Lawal, the CEO of Connected Development, shared his optimism and imaginativeness for the aboriginal of women successful Nigeria’s governmental space.

"I'm excited astir the call, the corporate dependable of campaigners and activists that gives anticipation that sex equality is possible. "Integrating women into authorities and decision-making is indispensable due to the fact that this would guarantee the corporate involvement of the Nigerian people," Lawal said.

According to Lawal, Nigerian women are earthy leaders who prioritise issues that resonate with the wide public, including healthcare, education, entree to cleanable water, and economical empowerment. These are, helium argues, not conscionable 'women’s issues' but captious pillars for nationalist development.

“The governmental terrain is afloat of men who musculus their mode successful and propulsion women to the sidelines,” helium said. “I deliberation they're frightened due to the fact that they cognize that women are selfless and absorption connected issues that impact everyone.”

Despite the male-dominated governmental environment, Lawal sees a displacement connected the horizon. He cites amended organisation among women and civilian society, arsenic good arsenic rising nationalist awareness, arsenic signs of progress.

“Women marque up implicit 50% of our population. This fig is power, and we indispensable usage it to negociate their rightful spot successful Nigerian democracy,” helium emphasised.

Campaigners propulsion for 35% affirmative action

One of the astir pivotal forces successful this displacement is the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), a nonprofit organisation that has played a strategical relation successful advocating for the 35% affirmative enactment policy.

This argumentation calls for women to inhabit astatine slightest 35% of appointive and elective governmental positions. Through advocacy, research, capableness building, and strategical partnerships, the NWTF has worked tirelessly to dismantle structural barriers that forestall women from participating afloat successful governance.

The NWTF has besides supported pistillate aspirants by providing argumentation investigation and grooming to amended equip them for governmental competition. Their relation extends beyond elections — they advocator for women’s voices successful argumentation formulation and governance astatine each levels.

Other civilian nine organisations similar the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Yiaga Africa, and the ElectHER’s initiatives person besides been pivotal successful mobilising young women and creating platforms for them to lead. From ineligible battles for inclusion to nationalist campaigns that telephone retired discriminatory practices, these groups are sustaining the momentum.

Together, these organisations are amplifying a important message: affirmative enactment is not tokenism, but a indispensable corrective measurement to decades of exclusion.

Lawal insisted that “women are taking backmost their spot naturally, occupying their spaces and agencies and ensuring their voices matter.”

Legal efforts person besides strengthened the campaign. In 2022, a Federal High Court successful Abuja ruled successful favour of the Nigerian women’s movement, mandating the national authorities to instrumentality the 35% affirmative action. The ruling was celebrated arsenic a landmark triumph and a telephone to enactment for the enforcement and legislative arms to marque bully connected the law committedness of equality.

But the travel is acold from over.

Despite the ineligible triumph and expanding advocacy, women presently clasp little than 10% of elected positions successful Nigeria. In the 2023 wide elections, lone 4% of those elected to the National Assembly were women — a disappointing statistic, fixed the important fig of pistillate candidates and voters.

Still, the tone of the question remains undeterred. Lawal believes that the momentum being built present volition wage disconnected successful the adjacent future.

“There’s hope. We indispensable proceed to clasp onto our anticipation for what we judge in. We indispensable besides enactment towards actualising this anticipation that ensures inclusivity,” Lawal stated.

This includes fostering alliances crossed sex lines, mentoring a caller procreation of pistillate governmental leaders, and continuing to situation societal norms that confine women to the background.

As Nigeria moves toward the adjacent predetermination cycle, the voices of women, from municipality centres to agrarian communities, are becoming louder, clearer, and much united. And with the backing of dedicated civilian nine organisations and bold leaders similar Lawal, the imagination of an inclusive ideology whitethorn yet beryllium wrong reach.

NGO launches task to empower women

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a non-profit organisation successful Abuja, the Ark and Rainbow Development Foundation (ARDF), had introduced the SHAPPE Project, an inaugural aimed astatine empowering women and youth successful peacebuilding and biology protection.

The project, titled Strengthening Her Aspirations for Peace-building and Protecting the Environment, is supported by the Rotary Club of Ithaca, New York, done the Rotary Peace International Service Grant.

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Source: Legit.ng