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In a renewed push to advance gender inclusion in governance to reshape political representation, Nigerian women advocates have taken the campaign seeking strategic international backing to accelerate the passage of the Special Seats Bill to the United Nations (UN).
A delegation of Nigerian women advocates led by ActionAid Nigeria met with the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.
The delegation, comprising gender rights advocates and prominent feminists, was led by Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, who said the meeting was aimed at seeking international support in advancing advocacy for more inclusive representation of women in Nigeria’s political leadership.
Mamedu described women as “central to national development,” stressing that the Special Seats Bill represents an essential step toward correcting Nigeria’s gender imbalance in politics.
“Passing this bill will not only reduce the imbalance but also set Nigeria on the right track toward inclusive governance,” he said.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohammed commended the delegation for their commitment to strengthening gender equality and urged sustained collaboration among stakeholders to translate advocacy into policy change.
“Nigeria needs more women in governance, and everyone — men and women alike — must work together to make this happen. Adequate representation brings balance and drives development,” she stated.
Members of the delegation included Ebere Ifendu of the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), Bose Ironsi, Joy Ezeilo of Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Nkechi Ilochi-Kanny, Funmi Olukeye, and Amina Omeri.
First introduced in 2020, the Special Seats bill has undergone debates and public hearings but has yet to be passed, as advocacy intensifies ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The Bill seeks to increase women’s representation in Nigeria’s National Assembly by creating additional elective positions exclusively for women—three per state in the Senate and six per state in the House of Representatives.