The need for stronger gender inclusion in Nigeria’s political and governance structures where women should occupy half of all parliamentary and leadership positions across the country has been emphasized.
The Country Representative of UN Women for Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong, made the call during a discussion with the Executive Director of the Women Development Monitoring Initiative (WDMI), Chikas Kumle, centered on the theme, “Representation: The Urgency of Now”.
Eyong while speaking on the state of women’s participation in governance, argued that the current level of representation falls far below what is necessary in a democratic society and maintained that women constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population and should therefore enjoy equal opportunities as well as representation in decision-making institutions.
She expressed concern over the low number of women occupying positions in parliament, state legislatures and other key sectors, stressing that such disparities undermine inclusive governance and sustainable development.
According to her, Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks should be designed to guarantee balanced participation between men and women.
Eyong noted that genuine democracy requires a fair distribution of opportunities and leadership roles and argued that women should not be relegated to the margins of governance but should instead be actively involved in shaping policies and decisions that affect national development.
She further emphasized that discussions on inclusion should not be limited to gender alone saying efforts to achieve equitable representation must also take into account women living with disabilities, widows and individuals from disadvantaged social backgrounds.
She stressed that governance structures should reflect the diversity of society to ensure that no group feels excluded from the nation’s political and economic processes.
The UN Women representative warned that persistent exclusion of certain groups from governance and development initiatives could have serious consequences for social stability stressing that when people are consistently denied access to opportunities, resources and participation in decision-making, frustration and resentment can grow, potentially creating conditions for conflict and unrest.
Eyong also highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, public participation and adherence to the rule of law as critical pillars of effective governance.
She stated that leadership should be guided by the collective interests of citizens rather than personal ambitions or narrow political considerations.
Addressing concerns about declining confidence in democratic systems across many African countries, she attributed the trend to the inability of democratic institutions to consistently deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Many people, particularly young people and women, have become increasingly disappointed because democracy has not produced the level of economic and social progress they had expected.
“Increasing women’s participation in leadership positions could help reverse this trend by bringing fresh perspectives and greater attention to issues affecting families and communities. Women leaders are often uniquely positioned to understand and respond to societal challenges due to their experiences in nurturing families and managing social responsibilities”Eyong noted.
She expressed confidence that greater female involvement in governance would contribute to stronger democratic outcomes, improved living standards and accelerated economic growth. Eyong maintained that women’s presence at decision-making tables would help ensure that policies are more responsive to the needs of citizens and more focused on delivering tangible development results.
“Political leaders and policymakers should embrace gender-balanced representation as a necessity rather than an option. Inclusive governance remains essential for building a more prosperous, stable and democratic society” she added.
