The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has lamented that Nigerian women are still battling to get their place in politics and governance as a result of sustained policies that put them at a disadvantage.
She stated this at the ‘International Legislative Dialogue on Women and Constitution Amendment in Nigeria’ held in Abuja on Monday.
The dialogue was organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Amendment with support from the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) and funded by the European Union.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by Kwara State First Lady and Chairperson, Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum, Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said while some gains had been made, it was however disheartening that in the National Assembly only few women were elected into the two chambers.
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She lamented that while women contributed a lot in the electoral process, their participation was being curtailed as they were denied equal participation in governance and politics.
According to her, progress has been slow in having sustainable process that fast track women participation through robust, wider policies for the girl child and educated, intelligent and potential women leaders in the country.
The First Lady said Nigeria needed to work on many things, especially some socio-cultural inhibitions limiting national growth through women exclusion.
She noted that there was a need for more gender responsive policies and legislations that will encourage women participation and affirmative initiatives.
In his opening remarks earlier, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House Committee on Constitution Amendment, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, said as Nigeria confronted the realities that restrict women’s political participation, it was essential to understand the scale and urgency of the issue.
He said, “Data from the recent 2023 general elections highlights the scope of this challenge: 18 political parties fielded a staggering 15,307 candidates. However, of these candidates, only 1,552 were women.
“This sharp contrast is not just a statistic; it is a stark reminder of the societal, structural, and political barriers that continue to inhibit women’s full participation in our democracy
“Indeed, inclusive governance is not merely an equity issue; it is a strategic imperative. Countries that have successfully integrated women into decision-making roles experience gains in innovation, collaboration across sectors, and, notably, economic growth,” he added.
