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  • Olawuyi to African leaders: implement UN business principles, human rights

    Olawuyi to African leaders: implement UN business principles, human rights

    Vice Chairperson of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor Damilola Olawuyi (SAN) has urged African leaders in government, business and development sectors across Africa to step up their commitment to the effective implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) as a tool for boosting inclusive and sustainable prosperity for all.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who is also the global vice chair of the International Law Association, made these remarks during his plenary address to the 4th Annual African Forum on Business Human Rights convened by the African Union in partnership with the United Nations, and hosted by the Government of Zambia.

    The theme was: “From Commitment to Action: Advancing Remedy, Reparations, and Responsible Business Conduct in Africa.”

    The continental forum brought together African leaders, development experts, business enterprises, civil society, and academia to explore how to promote and ensure responsible investments in all key economic sectors.

    The Forum also featured high level speakers, including the Minister of Justice of Zambia, Princess Kasune, as well as representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Global Compact, UNICEF, African Union, African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights amongst other dignitaries.

    While exploring progress made in addressing adverse human rights impact of business activities and investments in key economic sectors, Olawuyi called on African businesses, investors and entrepreneurs to be more proactive in integrating human rights, environment, social and governance (ESG) standards across their value chains, including corporate policies, procurement standards and operational grievance mechanisms, in order to minimise legal liability and regulatory risks.

    He emphasised that with increased adoption of right-based legislation across the world, including the European Union’s Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CS3D), it is crystal clear that businesses in that fail to respond risk being left behind in a rapidly changing right-based global economy.

    According to him: “Africa is rising as the hub for new investments in mining, infrastructure, agribusiness and green technologies.

    At the same time, as we have heard at this forum, local communities, indigenous groups, and marginalised stakeholders want a prosperous Africa built on responsible business practices.

    Profit maximisation is impossible in an atmosphere of public distrust, community protests and reputational damage.

    We therefore call on all States and businesses across the continent to step up their commitment to human rights due diligence, meaningful stakeholder engagement and sustainable development when making business, investment and licensing decisions.

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    ”While commending the governments of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Liberia and Ghana for being the first few African countries to have adopted National Actions Plans on Business and Human Rights, he called for accelerated action to transform growing commitments on business and human rights to reality.

    Noting that a ‘whole society approach’ is required to mainstream responsible investment into all economic sectors, Olawuyi called on states and business to provide more financial and technical support to national human rights institutions, higher education institutions, media, civil society organizations, Indigenous caucus and human rights defenders across the continent.

    This is to enable them to continue their important work on promoting education and awareness on ethical and right-based investments that dismantle work-place inequalities and advance sustainable development.

  • UN delegation to visit Nigeria to spotlight progress on IDPs

    UN delegation to visit Nigeria to spotlight progress on IDPs

    A high-level United Nations delegation will visit Nigeria from 20 to 22 October to assess and showcase the country’s ongoing efforts to address the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    The delegation will be led by Ms Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    The others are Mr Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ms Shoko Noda, Director of the Crisis Bureau at the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

    According to Mr Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, the mission will engage with senior government officials, development partners and UN personnel operating in affected communities.

    As of July 2024, Nigeria hosts an estimated 3.5 million IDPs, largely due to insurgency, banditry, communal clashes and environmental shocks such as flooding and desertification.

    The North-East region remains the epicentre, sheltering more than 2.1 million displaced persons.

    In spite of national and international efforts, humanitarian needs remain severe.

    According to UN figures, 7.8 million people in northern Nigeria require assistance this year.

    However, only 1.3 million have been reached so far, raising concerns over limited funding and operational constraints.

    The visit by the UN delegation is expected to reinforce international support for Nigeria’s transition from emergency relief to long-term recovery, stabilisation and reintegration of displaced populations.

    The visit will also showcase Nigeria’s progress in managing internal displacement and resettlement.

    It will promote best practices that could serve as models for other displacement-affected countries;

    Among other things, the visit will strengthen collaboration among humanitarian and development actors.

    In addition, it will mobilise increased international support and financing for long-term, development-focused interventions.

    (NAN)

  • African leaders confront West at UN, demand reparations for slave trade, colonialism

    African leaders confront West at UN, demand reparations for slave trade, colonialism

    Calls for reparative justice over the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism dominated proceedings at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, as African and Global South leaders mounted an unprecedented challenge to Western silence on historical crimes.

    In a landmark address, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, serving as the African Union Champion for Reparations, declared the slave trade “the greatest crime against humanity,” recalling the forced displacement of over 12.5 million Africans whose labour and lives built the wealth of Western nations.

    “We must demand reparations for the enslavement of our people and the colonisation of our land that resulted in the theft of natural resources,” Mahama told world leaders, stressing the bitter irony that Western governments once compensated slave owners for the loss of their “property” while ignoring the humanity of the enslaved.

    Central African Republic President Faustin Archange Touadera reinforced the call, insisting that “the era of Africa’s dependence is over.” 

    He urged a decisive shift toward sovereignty, partnership, and equity, condemning widening poverty in Africa alongside rising wealth in the North.

    Bolivia’s President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora pushed further by demanding the creation of a dedicated UN commission on reparations to address slavery, apartheid, genocide, and colonialism. 

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    He proposed financial compensation, environmental restoration, and restitution of stolen cultural property as central pillars of reparative justice.

    “This commission must establish effective mechanisms to restore historical justice,” Arce said, urging Western powers to commit “billions of dollars into a reparations fund” and calling for unity between the African Union and CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

    Across the board, leaders voiced disappointment with the refusal of Western nations to engage meaningfully on reparations, describing the silence as a deliberate attempt to evade historical responsibility.

    The coordinated stance, delivered during the General Debate of the 80th UN General Assembly, marks a major escalation in the global reparations campaign, signaling that former colonial powers can no longer ignore the demands for justice.

  • Kalu calls for review of UN funding to strengthen multilateralism

    Kalu calls for review of UN funding to strengthen multilateralism

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called for a review of the United Nations’ (UN) funding structure to promote a more balanced and genuinely multilateral system.

    Speaking at the 55th Session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Kalu reinforced Nigeria’s support for multilateralism and fair, inclusive trade that could boost the country’s economy and global standing.

    Presenting Nigeria’s input to the IPU draft resolution, Kalu noted that the current reliance on a few major donor countries allows them to dictate priorities, thereby undermining multilateralism.

    He proposed reforms to limit donor dominance, foster equitable decision-making, and strengthen cooperation toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    “Nigeria calls for a review of the current funding structure of the United Nations. The prevailing dependency on a few major donor countries allows these nations to dictate priorities—embodied in the adage “he who pays the piper dictates the tune.” 

    He stressed that to ensure a balanced and truly multilateral system, the funding participation scope should be expanded to include a broader range of nations, thereby reducing undue influence and fostering equitable decision-making”, he had said at the New York meeting. 

    Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to reinforcing multilateralism and advancing fair and inclusive trade systems.

    He said, “I am honoured to join Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, alongside fellow Steering Committee Members from 8 other countries, including the European Parliament, on this global assignment to strengthen parliamentary engagement and interaction with the work of the WTO. 

    “I remain committed to ensuring that Africa’s voice, and Nigeria’s voice in particular, resonates strongly in shaping the future of global trade governance.

    “Our mission is to reinforce multilateralism, advance fair and inclusive trade, and guarantee that no nation is left behind in the evolving global economy”.

    The Deputy Speaker’s involvement aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.

  • UN observes 24th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

    UN observes 24th anniversary of 9/11 terror attacks

    The UN on Thursday marked the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the U.S.

    The UN reaffirmed its enduring solidarity with the people of New York, the city where it has been headquartered for nearly 80 years.

    “New York has hosted the United Nations for 80 years and has been the home to many of our colleagues, as well as to diplomats, staff, and of course all the Secretaries-General.

    “We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of New York, as we did 24 years ago,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.

    The attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in downtown Manhattan claimed nearly 3,000 lives from over 90 countries and left thousands more injured.

    Decades later, survivors and first responders continue to face long-term health challenges, including respiratory illnesses, cancer and mental health struggles.

    “New York City has hosted our UN Headquarters for decades and is the place many colleagues call home, so do I,” Secretary-General António Guterres said.

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    “Today, my thoughts are with everyone who lost loved ones on 9/11, and with all the people of New York City,” he added, in a social media post.

    The UN emphasised its ongoing commitment to commemorate the worst terror attack in the U.S. history.

    The global organisation pledged to continue honouring the victims and supporting New Yorkers as the city continues its journey of resilience and healing.

    (NAN)

  • UN declares July 7 ‘World Amotekun Day’, acknowledges role in regional security

    UN declares July 7 ‘World Amotekun Day’, acknowledges role in regional security

    The United Nations (UN) has declared July 7 annually as ‘World Amotekun Day’ to acknowledge the efforts of the Western Nigeria Security Network, code-named Amotekun Corps, in Ondo State.

    The UN also said the decision was influenced by the recognition of Amotekun’s outstanding role in combating crime across the southwest region of the country.

    This was contained in a statement released on Monday in Akure, the state capital, by Adetunji Adeleye, state commander of Amotekun.

    The statement said the affiliation was made known at the Amotekun headquarters in Akure by Ambassador Dr. Markwili Mgbara, Director of Information and Communications of the International Association of World Peace Advocates.

    According to the statement, Mgbara said the affiliation certificate was issued under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status and the International Association of World Peace Advocacy.

    “Ondo Amotekun is the first state-owned security agency that has gained a peculiar international affiliation with the United Nations in saving lives.

    “This certificate confirms the affiliation of the Ondo State Amotekun Corps as a trained security unit recognised by the UN, while Amotekun is also expected to collaborate with various UN offices.

    “Amotekun, established in 2019, aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its broader vision for peace and security by 2030.

    “UN recognises Amotekun’s achievements in reducing crime, supporting farmers, ensuring highway safety and protecting lives and property across Nigeria’s South-West region.

    “Because of these efforts, Amotekun will now participate in various UN security and human rights meetings globally, like the United Nations’ 80th Anniversary event scheduled for Sept.22, 2025, in New York,” the statement read.

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    It said Adeleye, also Chairman, Council of Amotekun Commanders, dedicated the recognition to God and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for an enabling environment for Amotekun to thrive.

    According to the statement, Adeleye recounted the difficult start of the agency five years ago, when farmers could not go to their farms, and many businesses were shut down.

    “Today, thanks to God and the government’s support, farmers have returned, food insecurity has reduced, and economic activities are thriving,” he said.

    The commander assured residents, commuters, and farmers that Amotekun remained committed to working with other security agencies to ensure safety.

    Adeleye, however, said that no society was entirely crime-free, but noted that Ondo State had made adequate progress in being crime-free.

  • Expert advocates revolutionary bottom-up water governance model at UN

    Expert advocates revolutionary bottom-up water governance model at UN

     A groundbreaking advocacy effort by a Nigerian rural development and policy expert at the United Nations has put the spotlight on community-driven water governance as a sustainable alternative to conventional water development approaches that have failed to solve Nigeria’s water crisis.

    Damilola Olajubutu, Executive Director of Rural Nurture Initiative (RNI), leveraged her extensive rural development and policy expertise to make a compelling case for transformative water solutions during the UN General Assembly President’s meeting on Sustainable Development Goal 6 and related multistakeholder events on July 9 – 10, 2025. 

    She challenges the international development community to fundamentally rethink how water interventions are designed and implemented.

    Her intervention, delivered on behalf of RNI and the African Rural Development Network, has implications that extend far beyond international forums—it offers a roadmap for how Nigeria can achieve sustainable water access for its 60+ million citizens currently without safe water.

    Olajubutu’s presentation highlighted a critical gap in current water development practices: the disconnect between what communities need and what external agencies provide. Her organization’s fieldwork across Nigerian rural communities revealed that sustainability depends not on technological sophistication but on community ownership and local maintenance capacity. 

    This finding challenges the prevailing assumption that more advanced technology automatically translates to better outcomes.

    The implications for Nigeria’s water sector are profound. Current approaches often prioritize high-tech solutions that communities cannot maintain, leading to project failure once external support ends. Olajubutu’s model demonstrates that empowering communities to select and manage their water infrastructure creates lasting impact.

    A standout element of RNI’s approach is the establishment of gender-inclusive water committees that amplify women’s voices in resource governance. 

    This innovation recognizes that women are typically the primary water managers in rural contexts, yet are often excluded from decision-making processes.

    “Our gender-inclusive water committees amplified women’s voices in resource governance,” Olajubutu told the UN delegates, presenting this as a key factor in the success of community-driven water projects.

    This approach offers valuable lessons for Nigeria’s water sector, where women’s participation in water governance remains limited despite their central role in water collection and management at the household level.

    During the conference’s stakeholder brainstorming sessions, Olajubutu outlined specific expectations for water policy integration that draws from rural development best practices. 

    Her policy expertise enabled her to emphasize that water interventions must be “backed up by appropriate actions” using proven rural development methodologies and supported by “effective monitoring and functional feedback mechanisms.”

    Among her key expectations for the 2026 conference was the establishment of mandatory rural inclusion quotas in water infrastructure development, ensuring that rural communities receive proportional attention and resources in water interventions rather than being marginalized in planning processes.

    Her call for collaborative water governance reflects her rural development background in community engagement and participatory approaches. 

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    As Nigeria grapples with achieving sustainable water access, Olajubutu’s model offers a framework for ensuring that water interventions leverage rural development insights to create lasting impact.

    Economic Sustainability Through Community Ownership

    The economic argument for community-driven solutions is compelling. 

    Olajubutu’s approach addresses a critical challenge in Nigeria’s water sector: the high failure rate of water projects due to poor maintenance and lack of local ownership.

    By integrating WASH education with infrastructure development and ensuring community participation in technology selection, RNI’s model creates the conditions for long-term sustainability. Communities develop both the technical capacity and the ownership mindset necessary to maintain water facilities beyond the project implementation period.

    “The lesson is clear: communities know their needs best,” Olajubutu stated. “When we trust their expertise and support their choices, we create sustainable solutions that endure long after external support ends.”

    Olajubutu’s international advocacy comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s water sector. With ambitious targets for achieving universal water access and ongoing discussions about sector reforms, her community-driven model offers a proven alternative to traditional approaches.

    The model’s emphasis on local capacity building and community ownership aligns with Nigeria’s need for sustainable, scalable solutions that can address the water needs of both rural and peri-urban populations.

    Her call for practical case study presentations at the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi represents an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase innovative, locally-developed solutions on the global stage.

    Olajubutu’s role as coordinator of the African Rural Development Network positions her advocacy within a broader continental context. Her intervention emphasized that “across Africa, where hundreds of millions lack safe water including Nigeria’s 60+ million people, communities are not just beneficiaries waiting for solutions but are partners with the knowledge and commitment to create lasting change.”

    This perspective positions Nigeria as a potential leader in promoting community-driven water governance across Africa, offering a model that other countries facing similar challenges could adapt and implement.

    Looking Ahead to 2026

    As the UN moves toward the 2026 Water Conference, Olajubutu’s intervention has helped ensure that community-driven approaches will feature prominently in global water governance discussions. 

    Her vision includes moving beyond theoretical presentations to practical demonstrations of what works in African communities.

    For Nigeria, this represents an opportunity to influence global water development practices while implementing proven solutions to address the country’s water access challenges.

    “The communities are ready. The question is: are we ready to listen?” Olajubutu challenged the UN assembly. For Nigeria’s water sector, this question is particularly relevant as the country seeks sustainable pathways to universal water access.

    The success of RNI’s community-driven model offers hope that Nigeria can achieve its water access goals through approaches that respect local knowledge, empower communities, and create lasting change from the ground up.

  • UN urges private sector to fill development funding gap

    UN urges private sector to fill development funding gap

    United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall has called on the private sector to fill the gap in funding development in Nigeria.

    He spoke on the backdrop of the cut in Official Development Assistance. 

    ODA is a form of aid provided by governments of developed countries to developing nations, which form a large chunk of the  source of funding for development projects aimed at improving living standards and promoting economic growth in recipient countries. 

    Speaking ahead of this year’s Africa Social Impact summit, scheduled for July 10-11 2025 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, Falls said there is a need for a shift. That Nigeria and other African countries should begin to think of local sourcing of funds for development. 

    Fall said the summit was  meant to provide a space where focus is on solutions to climate and local sourcing of funds development. 

    Falls said: “We are entering a new era where ODA, where development financing, where humanitarian financing would never be the way it has been for the past decade.

    “And we are aware of it, we are mindful of it, and we will. This is why we think that it is time for us to focus on what kind of alternative model will give the most value for financing development in a context like the one of Nigeria.

    “ And today financing development cannot find any more resource than the domestic resources.”

    He explained that not just domestic resources from the state, but domestic resources also from the private sector.” 

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    He streseed that the era which the states aline fund education, health amd other segments of the society is gone.

    “Because the time where the state as a segment of society undertake everything, have the tax that they require to finance education, finance health, finance livelihood, finance water and sanitation, finance food security, that time too is past,” he said.

    He therefore said the scheduled Africa Social Impact Summit is timely as it aimed at addressing the gaps of development. 

    The UN official said: “That’s why we believe that today this summit is taking place at a time when we really need to put together our effort, our reflection, and see which direction we need to take to make sure that the private sector comes to the development financing not only as a charity or not only as a corporate social responsibility, but as an investment for development, with the shared value and the shared understanding that any investment or any gain you make in development is going to benefit the private sector, bringing in what I call the shared value or the win-win concept of the partnership.”

    Speaking on the summit, the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Banks Plc, Abubakar Suleiman said the summit aimed at providing space “where anyone who is trying to have a big impact can come and meet other like-minded people who are trying to do the same thing.”

    He stressed that the summit is not about telling people how to have a better partner or how to invest or how to invest money.

    The Africa Social Impact Summit is a continent-wide platform for deepening collaboration and driving impact on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has been made possible through the continued support and commitment of partners.

    No fewer than 2,500 participants are expected at this year’s Africa Social Impact summit.

    The summit is anchored by the Sterling one foundation and other partners. 

  • CSOs advocate bold reforms ahead of UN’s financing forum

    CSOs advocate bold reforms ahead of UN’s financing forum

    Ahead of the United Nations’ (UN) fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) slated for June 30 in Spain, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called for bold global actions and urgent domestic reforms to address the persistent financing challenges facing the Global South.

    The call was contained in a statement report titled “Financing for Development in Nigeria: Sectoral Context and Insights for the Fourth International Conference”- an advocacy position paper.

    The paper was developed by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in partnership with Oxfam in Nigeria, Christian Aid, International Budget Partnership, Tax Justice & Governance Platform, Connected Development and other key partners under the Africa Agenda on Financing for Development (Agenda Afrique).

    The report presented a sobering analysis of Nigeria’s development trajectory, warning that “Nigeria faces a multidimensional financing gap, driven by underperforming domestic resource mobilization, inequitable global financial rules, and increasing vulnerability to climate change.”

    It noted that critical sectors like education, health, agriculture, and climate resilience remain chronically underfunded. “Education spending falls below UNESCO benchmarks, health expenditure remains under 4% of GDP, and the country loses over $18 billion annually to illicit financial flows.

     “Meanwhile, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio has now exceeded 70 percent, leaving little room for investment in people,” it stated.

    The report also emphasised that while international frameworks such as the African Union’s Agenda 2063, ECOWAS Vision 2050, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a shared vision for progress, the real struggle lies in resource mobilisation.

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     “The issue is not a lack of frameworks, but rather a lack of effective implementation due to several core problems,” the report added.

    According to the report, most Nigerian states lacked measurable development blueprints, making it difficult to track progress or attract meaningful investments. “Without decisive and deliberate efforts to bridge these financing gaps at both national and sub-national levels, Nigeria will continue to fall behind,” the document warned.

    Nigeria will use the platform of the FfD4 to call for major reforms in the international financial architecture. The country is advocating for changes to global tax rules, easier access to climate finance, and new concessional financing frameworks that reflect the needs of countries with large populations living in poverty.

     “We urge the international community to prioritise loss and damage financing, equitable access to green investments, and reform of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to better support middle-income countries carrying high poverty burdens,” the report added.

    On the domestic front, the report outlined a range of policy proposals to enhance Nigeria’s financial capacity. These include adopting digital tax systems for fair taxation; simplifying trade processes to drive industrialization; launching anti-corruption and asset recovery campaigns, and establishing development finance facilities to de-risk private investment in infrastructure and social services.

    The report drew urgent attention to Nigeria’s worsening brain drain crisis, noting that the “continued migration of Nigeria’s skilled workforce, especially young professionals, is directly linked to the lack of inclusive economic opportunities at home. If we fail to invest in youth-centred policies and job creation, our best minds will continue to seek prosperity elsewhere.”

  • UN women, stakeholders push for passage of special seats bill

    UN women, stakeholders push for passage of special seats bill

    UN Women, in collaboration with the women’s political participation partners working group and other key stakeholders, has advocated for the passage of the special seats bill currently before the National Assembly.

    The bill proposes to create special seats for women as a temporary but necessary corrective measure to bridge the gap between male and female representation.

    Speaking in Abuja at the Strategy Convening on Special Seats Bill—Opportunities and Challenges: Options for State and Grassroots Advocacy Positioning Citizens for Nation-Wide Conversation, Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the Special Seats Bill seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.

    She stated that the Bill, when passed into law, would be a major step toward enhancing women’s voice and representation in the country’s leadership and legislative agenda.

    The bill is designed to “fast-track” women’s political representation; to move from incremental gains to substantial growth.

    This bill seeks to amend sections 48, 49, and 91 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to create 74 seats in the National Assembly and 108 seats in the State Houses of Assembly (altogether), bringing the total number of seats to 182 seats in the Legislative arm of government.

    In the current National Assembly, Eyong disclosed that women comprise only 3% of the seats in the Senate and 3.9% of the seats in the House of Representatives.

    She revealed that UN Women has built strategic partnerships to garner support for the Special Seats Bill across the country. 

    According to Eyong, “UN Women has built strategic partnerships that are already yielding important advocacy results in terms of support for the Special Seats Bill across the country. 

    “15 Radio Stations and two TV Stations are hosting weekly programmes on the Special Seats Bill.

    “The campaign is also being catalysed through newspapers and different media platforms.

    “Further, UN Women will support the convening of 120 town halls across 24 states to allow citizens to interact with the Bill and prepare memoranda to be submitted to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitutional Reform during their state-level and zonal public hearings.

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    “This will be supported by over 500,000 physical endorsements of the Bill in the 24 states.

    “This great campaign is made possible courtesy, the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom. We salute these two governments in their resolve to walk this journey with the Nigerian women.”

    In her welcome address, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, Chair, Women Political Participation Partners Working Group, explained that the intent of the “bill is to provide for a temporary specific measure to fast-track women’s political participation in Nigeria,  the seats will be tenured for a specific amount of years and may be reviewed by the National Assembly.”

    She pointed out that the meeting was convened to assess the opportunities and challenges surrounding the bill, refine national and grassroots advocacy strategies, and coordinate efforts to ensure the bill gains the support it needs in both houses of the National Assembly and across at least 24 State Houses of Assembly.

    She said, “The next few months (from May to August 2025) will be decisive. They demand a united voice, strategic action, and fervent commitment from us.

    “We must engage our representatives in the National Assembly, mobilise citizens, raise critical awareness, amplify grassroots support, coordinate efforts, and ensure that women, including young women and women with disabilities, are not just participants, but leaders in shaping the future of our democracy.”