Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has emphasised the importance of unity and collective action in achieving women inclusion in politics.
Speaking during a virtual summit organised by Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation and aired live on Women Radio 91.7FM, she called on Nigerian women to unite in order to move mountains, noting that the Special Seats Bill currently before the National Assembly was imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance.
“When women unite, mountains move. The Special Seats Bill is not just important; it’s also imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance. We must unite for Nigeria’s prosperity and unity,” she declared.
At the summit, themed, ‘Using Grassroots Influence to Power Females in Governance,’ and attended by stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers and advocates, the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation called for collective action to promote women’s political inclusion, while urging political parties to make deliberate efforts to field and endorse more female candidates.
The organisation also urged women to engage in continuous dialogue with cultural and religious leaders to challenge patriarchal norms and stereotypes that limit their participation in governance.
In her remarks, British Deputy High Commissioner to Abuja, Gill Lever, stated that women must unite to become unstoppable. She urged them not to allow society to judge them on balancing multiple roles with governance.
President of Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu, warned that without grassroots women support, the bill would fail. “We must educate every woman to vote wisely,” he added.
Executive Director, IyaMopo Centre for Peace, Sherifat Taleat and Bilikisu Yakubu of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative, called for tactical unity among women. They advised women occupying political offices to make themselves accessible to their constituencies, urging them to understand community needs and tailor agendas to suit their needs.
A major highlight of the summit was the Foundation’s research, which revealed that 82 percent of respondents agreed that non-presentation of women as candidates by political parties was a major reason for them to vote men over women.
Presented by the Programmes Officer, Taiwo Adeleye, the research findings also had 76 percent of respondents saying they were influenced by party leaders, their husbands, spiritual leaders, and cultural norms that women cannot lead, while 68 percent cited lack of empathy for women in power who are arrogant and inaccessible, with 42 percent citing inexperience as reason for not voting women.
“The data supported by MacArthur Foundation surveyed women across the 36 states and FCT on barriers to women’s political inclusion, reinforcing urgent need for engagement with political parties, grassroots women voters and custodians of our culture,” the presenter said.