Government Encourages Mobilization of 10 Million Women for Political Engagement

The Federal Government is urging the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) to mobilize 10 million women across the country. This initiative aims to boost political participation, enhance good governance, and improve women’s representation in decision-making roles.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, made this appeal during the NILOWV@30 All-Women Conference in Abuja. She emphasized the importance of grassroots mobilization in communities, religious institutions, markets, and polling units.

NILOWV is also pushing for the quick passage of the Special Seats Bill for Women. This bill seeks to address the ongoing underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legislative bodies. The organization is calling on the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and political parties to work faster towards achieving fair representation for women.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated, “When ten million Nigerian women speak in unison, no institution can ignore us.” She encouraged women to come together across different backgrounds to advocate for fairness and accountability in leadership.

The government has introduced a program called the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention, aiming to reach 50 million women, children, and vulnerable citizens. This initiative plans to economically empower over 10 million women in five years, focusing on digital and agricultural opportunities.

During the conference, NILOWV founder Rt. Hon. Dame Esther Uduehi highlighted that women are still underrepresented in Nigeria’s legislative institutions. She mentioned that currently, women hold only a small number of seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Uduehi noted that the Special Seats proposal aims to tackle the structural barriers that prevent women from being equally represented. She also called for reforms to ensure women have better access to finance, land, and leadership roles, and urged for stronger protections against gender-based violence.