In a landmark move, the Nigerian House of Representatives has taken a significant step towards empowering women in politics.
Spearheaded by one of the female lawmakers, Blessing Amadi, the House adopted a motion to establish a dedicated department within the Ministry of Women Affairs, complete with adequate funding to support and train women in politics.
The department will also work to integrate the importance of women’s political leadership into the secondary school curriculum.
The Speaker Tajudeen Abbas tasked the relevant committees with organizing training and seminars for women interested in running for office, particularly in rural areas, recognizing that politics begins at the grassroots level.
Amadi, a champion for women’s rights and a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, highlighted the stark underrepresentation of women in politics at both national and subnational levels, emphasizing the need for change.
She said, “Women are holding less than eight per cent of seats in both National and state Assemblies. We are aware that societal factors such as cultural or religious norms, marriage, indigeneship etc., impede women’s participation and representation in politics.
“The full and equitable participation of women in public life is essential to building and sustaining strong and vibrant democracies.”
The lawmaker added that despite the giant strides recorded by women over the years, “they remain significantly underrepresented in political and leadership positions globally and Nigeria in particular.”
“In Nigeria, women don’t have equal opportunities and support to serve as political leaders and elected representatives, which is vital to Nigeria’s democracy.
“To bring about any change in this disparity, it will require proactive measures to equip women with leadership skills, resources, and support needed to navigate the political landscape and effectively participate in decision-making processes,” she said.
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