The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria, has called for greater inclusion of women in political leadership and decision-making, saying their full participation is essential to building peaceful, inclusive and prosperous communities.
The call was made in Abuja during an aerobic exercise and talk on peace and security organised by the Council as part of activities promoting women’s wellbeing, peace-building and national development.
Addressing participants, the National President of NCWS, Princess Edna Azura, said Nigerian women must be recognised as key actors in peace, democracy, national unity and sustainable development.
Azura stressed that women constitute almost half of Nigeria’s population but remain significantly under-represented in elective positions, executive appointments and strategic decision-making.
“There cannot truly be inclusive democracy without the full participation of women,” she said.
She appealed to families to support women with leadership aspirations and urged political parties to remove barriers limiting female participation.
According to Azura, investment in women should not be regarded as charity but as an investment in Nigeria’s peace, security and sustainable development.
The NCWS president announced that the Council would host the first Nigerian Women, Peace and Democracy Summit on September 29, 2026, in Abuja, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
She said the summit, themed; “Women as Catalysts for Peace, Democracy and Inclusive Governance,” was expected to bring together more than 3,000 delegates from across Nigeria’s political, ethnic, religious and generational divides.
Azura explained that the summit would provide a platform for dialogue on democracy, governance, women’s leadership, peace-building and conflict prevention.
She added that the gathering would create opportunities for engagement between women, government institutions, traditional rulers, security agencies, diplomatic missions, multilateral organisations and the private sector.
The event also focused on the physical and mental wellbeing of women, with participants taking part in an aerobic exercise session.
One of the participants and Founder of Adorable Foundation International, Princess Ada Okeke, described the exercise as beneficial, saying she felt considerably lighter and relieved after participating.
She encouraged women to combine physical exercise with healthy eating, particularly as they go through different stages of life.
Okeke said she would take the initiative back to members of her organisation and encourage them to adopt similar exercises.
Also speaking, the National Secretary of NCWS Nigeria, Dr Bolatito Alabi, said regular exercise was important for women because of its benefits to blood circulation, mental alertness and general wellbeing.
She encouraged Nigerian women to make exercise part of their routine, noting that women often carry significant physical and emotional responsibilities.
Alabi expressed satisfaction with the inclusion of the exercise in the Council’s activities.
The NCWS said its broader mandate includes advancing women’s welfare, rights, education, economic empowerment, healthcare, peace and leadership opportunities, including for girls and persons living with disabilities.
The Council’s forthcoming Women, Peace and Democracy Summit is expected to further advance those objectives as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections.
