The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) has concluded its 2025 Annual General Meeting, National Conference, and Founders’ Day/Awards Night with renewed calls for collective action to strengthen women’s inclusion in politics, governance, and leadership at all levels.
At the Founders Day/Award Night held in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar and 19 other distinguished Nigerians were honoured for their contributions to advancing gender inclusiveness and promoting the Reserved Seats for Women Bill across the country.
Speaking, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who received the “Ambassador of Nigerian Women and Champion of Diversity and Inclusion Award”, described NILOWV’s advocacy as “a light at the end of the tunnel for women in Nigeria.”
“Right from the time I heard about this organisation,” he said, “I became very, very comfortable that, yes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel in Nigeria for women. You are doing a very noble job in this struggle; you are actually actively participating and contributing your own quota for the development of human folk in the country.”
He said the inclusion of women in governance was essential to national growth, noting that “if you can govern very well in our homes, there’s nothing stopping you from governing the whole country. Every home in this country is being governed by women effectively and successfully, and so they can contribute even better at the national level. So we should give them the opportunity to also participate in the act of governance.”
The royal father urged women not to relent despite economic and political challenges, assuring that “we will continue to be with you, pray for you, and it shall allow you to achieve your desired objectives by the grace of God. I believe strongly, whatever you can do at your own level, you can equally do even better at the national level. So continue to struggle, and on our own part, will continue to be with you.”
Receiving an award as an “Icon of Gender Inclusiveness and Supporter of the Reserved Seats Bill”, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, challenged women to “first believe in yourself—you can’t win any fight if you don’t win within. You must believe you can for you to drive it.”
“Women constitute about 50 per cent of the population of this country; no man wins election without the woman. Vote yourself, support yourself, and remember—you are not fighting the men; we are complementing one another.”
Dantalle emphasised that the struggle for representation begins from within, urging women to find strength in solidarity.
“When you believe in yourself and in one another, the world begins to believe in you,” he said. “God did not create women to be servants to men but to complement them. You can’t have a better society when women are behind.”
Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Mrs Ola Erinfolami conveyed the minister’s goodwill message, stating:
“…She’s passionate about NILOWV. She prays that God will grant Dame Esther Uduehi many more years and give President Irene Awuna-Ikyegh wisdom to carry on this assignment. God will bless Nigeria, and God will bless all women.”
In a tribute to NILOWV’s Founder, Mrs Esther Uduehi, the President of NILOWV, Mrs Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, lauded her for her lifelong commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
While recalling that she founded the League to mentor and foster solidarity among women advocating for their rights after participating in the Beijing Conference 30 years ago, Awunah-Ikyegh described her as “a visionary leader whose seed will not die.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Nikky Onyeri, appreciated the awardees and partners for their support, noting that the League’s vision would be incomplete without legislative reforms that ensure equitable representation.
She called for “concerted support from all quarters for the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, which is central to deepening democracy and women’s voices in governance.”
The League of Women Voters of Nigeria seeks to economically and politically empower women while fostering solidarity among women advocating for their rights.
For nearly three decades, NILOWV has remained a rallying platform for women’s civic participation, advocacy, and leadership development.
Through partnerships, mentorship, and legislative engagement, the League continues to galvanise national support for women’s inclusion in politics and governance, building on its founder’s vision of equality and empowerment.
The Founders’ Day celebration, which climaxed the three-day national conference, reaffirmed NILOWV’s commitment to transforming women’s voices and votes into instruments of democratic victory and sustainable national development.
Among other recipients were the Conservator General of Nigeria, Dr Ibrahim Goni, and the Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Women Development Centre, Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir, who was honoured as an Icon of Gender Inclusiveness and NILOWV Amazon of Democracy.