A non-governmental organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and other groups have demanded constitutional reforms to enhance women’s participation in Nigeria’s political atmosphere.
At a well attended event in Lagos, the groups advocated for comprehensive constitutional reforms that would give women more roles in political decisions in the country.
Speaking through Zephaniah Aura at a Media Townhall on Women’s Political Participation, the United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, stressed the urgent need for reserved seats for women in legislative bodies and highlighted the crucial role of media and celebrities in advancing this cause.
“Nigeria stands at a critical juncture,” Eyong stated. “By implementing constitutional provisions that allocate reserved seats for women, we can rectify historical gender imbalances in our political landscape.”
She commended the National Assembly’s ongoing discussions favoring such reforms and emphasized the need for extending them to executive and appointive positions nationwide.
Underscoring the media’s vital role in influencing societal change, Eyong urged journalists and content creators to use their platforms to advance the #SideBySideNaija campaign—a movement advocating for increased women’s representation through constitutional amendments.
“The media’s voice is powerful,” she noted. “Your advocacy is essential in shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions toward a more inclusive governance structure.”
Veteran actress Joke Silva echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that public figures bear a responsibility in championing gender equality.
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“As celebrities, we have a unique platform to inspire change. Let’s use our influence to advocate for policies that empower women and enrich our democracy,” she urged.
Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, said it is essential to acknowledge the significant stride women have contributed to the socio, political and economic development of the country, noting that Nigeria still lacks women participation in political matters.
According to him, women only occupy 4.5 per cent of all elective offices in the country, describing the development as abysmal.
“There is strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is an increase in policy making that reflects the priorities of families, women and minorities, in other words, much more of the population. And we’ve seen compelling evidence from other countries that introducing quotas to increase women’s representation in Parliament yields results.
UK’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, said the UK has been an advocate and supporter of women’s political empowerment in Nigeria.
“Women’s political empowerment is important because it leads to a more inclusive society that accelerates growth and prosperity. Women constitute half of the Nigerian population, and so it’s important that women are in decision making processes, making policies that deliver good governance and sustain the gains of democracy.
“That is why we stand side by side with and support the Nigerian government and citizens of Nigeria to move this agenda forward, because women, as we can see so clearly, in this role, play such a significant and common role in every other sector in Nigeria,” he added.
The town hall featured dynamic discussions on the necessity of legal frameworks to secure gender parity.
Participants underscored the urgency of embedding these reforms in the Nigerian constitution to ensure sustainable female representation in governance.
Distinguished attendees included Hon. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters, and Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of the House of Representatives, among other notable figures.
As the movement for constitutional reform gains momentum, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained advocacy, aiming for a political landscape where women’s voices are not only heard but play a pivotal role in decision-making processes.
This town hall marks a significant milestone toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
