PREMISE
Nigeria’s political arena is challenging for women due to the cultural, social, structural and institutional barriers and limitations. However, in spite of the obstacles, many Nigerian women remain active participants and have demonstrated courage, resilience, determination, innovation, and leadership, are taking purposeful action and making noteworthy strides
In order to amplify the voices of women in politics in Nigeria and galvanise support for collective action, WISCAR curated a conversation using its platform to spotlight women leaders engaged in the complex and challenging landscape of politics and advocacy in Nigeria. The second edition of the 2023 Meet-A-WISCAR series was successfully held on Thursday, 7th September 2023, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The panel discussion, themed “Women in Politics and Advocacy,” had 150 participants from the corporate sector, enterprise, government, and the civil society sectors in virtual attendance.
Nigerian women constitute nearly half of the country’s approx. 220 million population; however, significant gaps persist in their representation within both elective and appointive positions. Women are barely present. This discrepancy raises widespread concerns, given the critical role women play in the development of nations and society. Despite the concerted collaborative initiatives that have been launched by both governmental and non-governmental organisations to address this issue and increase female representation in governance and politics, not much progress has been made.
Reflecting on the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing (1995), which called for 30% affirmative action, Nigeria has made slow progress to augment women’s engagement in the political structures and processes. The National Gender Policy (NGP) in Nigeria takes a stride forward by recommending 35% affirmative action. This policy aspires for a more encompassing representation of women, underlining the goal that at least 35% of both elective political positions and appointive public service roles should be held by women.
However, despite these efforts, Nigeria continues to grapple with the challenge of achieving its targeted 35% gender representation and indeed the passage of the Gender Bills presented to the NASS
The outcomes of the 2023 general elections once again delivered dismal numbers for women across board. The representation of women in the 10th Assembly compared to the 9th Assembly is disappointing. Specifically, the Senate have women occupying only 3 out of 109 seats (2.7%), while the House of Representatives have 17 women out of 360 seats (4.7%), collectively accounting for 4.2% of the 469-member Assembly. Furthermore, the number of women appointed (17.8%) in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s new cabinet was disappointing. We look forward to more female appointees in this administration in line with the renewed hope agenda.
After seven general election cycles since 1999, the number of women in the Senate has regressed to the levels observed at Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999! With Nigeria, the giant of Arica, lagging behind other countries in this regard.
The pursuit of gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls and efforts to establish more balanced and equitable representation remain critical imperatives for the advancement and progress of Nigerian society and socio-economic growth.
At WISCAR (Women in Successful Careers), we recognise the pivotal role that role modelling, mentorship and shared experiences play in empowering women. The shared stories of our special guests offered not just a glimpse into their journey so far but a roadmap for others to follow. They unpacked their strategies, the support systems that they leaned on, and their perspectives on navigating the political terrain and the evolving role of women in Nigerian politics and we collectively plan towards the next election cycle in 2027.
The virtual panel session consisting of; Adeola Azeez – Partner/West Africa Representative, Sigma Risk, SDP Candiate, Ijebu Central Senatorial District election; Ayisha Osori – Activist/Author, Love Does Not Win Elections and former contestant for elective office in the House of Representatives); and Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi – Founding Director, WARDC; explored the topic the role of women in Politics and Advocacy.
The panel session was moderated by Founder, WILAN Global, Abosede George-Ogan, and hosted by WISCAR Founder/Chairperson, Amina Oyagbola. Practical ideas and insights emerged from the very rich conversation on the benefits of inclusive governance to society and the pathway to equal representation of women in politics to build a better nation.
KEY POINTS FROM THE PANEL
- Challenging Religious and Cultural Biases:
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi highlighted the influence of religion and culture as major barriers to women’s political participation and the need to change social norms. These factors contribute to society’s stereotypes about women’s roles and capabilities. While acknowledging that these biases are not unique to Nigeria, she stressed the importance of engaging with religious and cultural leaders to challenge and change these perceptions. - Enhancing Visibility of Young Women:
Poor visibility of young women in Nigerian politics as a significant weakness was another point emphasised by Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi. She stressed the need for intentional efforts to increase the digital presence and visibility of young female political leaders. By showcasing their achievements and contributions, society can better appreciate the valuable role young women play in politics. - Equal Representation in Decision-Making:
Ayisha Osori highlighted the importance of achieving equal representation of men and women, young people, and individuals with disabilities in decision-making and policy-making processes. Governments should reflect on the diversity of their societies, and women should have a seat at the table where budgets and policies are determined. - Early Engagement with Communities:
The need for female political contestants to start engaging with their communities early was raised by Ayisa Osori as waiting until shortly before elections to become visible is insufficient. To be truly visible and relevant, women should continuously engage with their communities and champion causes that resonate with the people they aim to represent. - Impactful Engagement in Politics:
Adeola Azeez expressed her frustration with the state of governance and emphasized the need for impactful political engagement. She urged women to leverage their accomplishments in other fields and use politics as a platform to make a significant impact on society. She also shared creative ideas on how to raise funds for elective office. - Prioritising Legislative Bills:
Adeola Azeez highlighted a practical step to improve female participation in politics—prioritising legislative bills that support gender inclusivity. Revisiting and passing bills related to women’s participation in politics is a low-hanging fruit that can yield substantial progress in the next electoral cycle. - Promoting a Mindset Change:
The panelists called for a consensus to change mindsets and raise awareness about the critical importance of women’s participation in politics. Women have a pivotal role to play in advocating for this change in various environments, including social gatherings and community interactions and in their homes
Strategic Action Required for Advancing Gender Inclusivity in Nigerian Politics:
- Challenge Religious and Cultural Biases:
- Engage religious and cultural leaders to challenge stereotypes about women’s roles;
- Promote dialogue on the role of women and gender equality with religious and cultural values.
- Enhance Visibility of Young Women:
- Take deliberate steps to increase the visibility and digital presence of young female political leaders;
- Raise awareness by showcasing the achievements and contributions of young women in politics.
- Achieve Equal Representation in Decision-Making:
- Advocate for equal representation of men and women, young people, and individuals with disabilities in policy and budget decision-making;
- Ensure that our government reflects the diversity and demography of their societies through inclusive representation.
- Early Community Engagement:
- Encourage female political contestants to engage with their communities early and continuously;
- Champion causes that resonate with the people they aim to represent, fostering trust and relevance.
- Promote Impactful Political Engagement:
- Encourage successful career women to go into politics and use their influence for societal impact;
- Highlight politics as a platform for making a significant difference in governance and policymaking.
- Prioritise Legislative Bills:
- Advocate for the prioritization and passage of legislative bills that support gender inclusivity in politics.
- Address legal barriers and create an enabling environment for women’s political participation.
- Promote Mindset Change:
- Engage in conversations and awareness campaigns to change mindsets, and social norms regarding women’s role in politics;
- Emphasize the importance of women’s participation in shaping policies, structures, and systems.
CONCLUSION AND APPRECIATION
The panel session concluded with the vote of thanks as delivered by Dolapo Alayaki, WISCAR, Operations Manager. She also gave special recognition to all WISCAR’s sponsors, donors and participants for making the WISCAR initiatives memorable and impactful.
