The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, says excluding women from governance and leadership is costly to Nigeria’s growth, stability, and balanced development.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, at the 2025 National Conference of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) held in Abuja, the Minister described the theme, “The Power of Women’s Voices and Votes: A Critical Tool for Electoral Victory,” as both “timely and relevant.”
Represented by Mrs Ola Erinfolami, Special Adviser on Administration, the Minister commended NILOWV for its commitment to advancing women’s political participation and said, “Inclusive governance and gender equality are not optional aspirations but necessary conditions for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.”
She cautioned that exclusion undermines national capacity and slows progress, stressing that: “excluding women from good things happening in this country does more harm than good. When women are excluded from leadership, our policies lack balance, our institutions lose empathy, and our development outcomes remain incomplete.”
Policies Driving Women’s Empowerment
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry is pursuing reforms that place women, children, families, and vulnerable groups at the centre of national renewal.
She listed major frameworks such as the National Gender Policy (2021–2026), the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy (2023), and the National Policy on Ending Child Marriage, noting that they are all designed to enhance inclusivity and equity.
Highlighting the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions–774, she described it as:
“A coordinated national platform operating across all 774 Local Government Areas, designed to drive women-centred, children-protected, and family-focused transformation nationwide.”
Reserved Seats Bill
On the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly, the Minister commended its champions in both chambers, saying: “Women’s inclusion is not an act of charity, but a strategic investment in Nigeria’s sustainable development, democratic strength, and collective progress.”
She called for sustainable financing to achieve gender equality and social inclusion targets, explaining that, “Nigeria currently faces an estimated USD 1.2 billion financing gap over the next five years.”
Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, mentorship, and mobilisation of women ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Let us amplify women’s voices in every public sphere, mobilise their votes for credible leadership, and mentor a new generation of women who will lead with integrity, empathy, and courage,” she said.
Grassroots Mobilisation
The Founder of NILOWV, Mrs Esther Udehi, called for intensified advocacy at the grassroots to build broader support for the Reserved Seats Bill.
“We need to reach every person, especially women in the villages, to promote women’s inclusion and the passage of the bill,” she said.
Similarly, the President of NILOWV, Mrs Irene Awunah-Ikyegh, said women’s participation in the 2027 elections would be decisive.
“The special seats bill is critical to 2027, and if it is passed into law, it will change the dynamics of Nigerian politics and restore our democratic integrity,” she affirmed.
Governors’ Spouses Forum
Representing the First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, Prof Olufolake Abdulrazaq, Director-General of the Forum, Hauwa Halira, highlighted the state’s example of inclusive governance, noting that women currently hold over 20 per cent of seats in the State House of Assembly.
“This action has built public trust and normalised women’s leadership, paving the way for electoral gains,” she said.
She added that the Reserved Seats Bill has attracted wide national backing.
“The campaign for this bill has mobilised over 10 million Nigerians and is endorsed by the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum,” she said, urging its passage during the current legislative session.
Traditional Rulers Declare Support
Delivering the goodwill message of the Etsu Nupe and Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr Yahaya Abubakar, represented by Dr Muhammad Kudu Abubakar, said traditional rulers recognise the critical role of women in Nigeria’s democracy.
“The power of women’s voices and votes in Nigeria is not only critical but imperative to all democratic institutions, especially political parties,” he said.
He acknowledged the cultural, socio-economic, and financial barriers women face but affirmed royal support for the Reserved Seats Bill.
“Nigeria’s Traditional Rulers support the Reserved Seats Bill and therefore urge the National and State Assemblies to pass this all-important bill,” he stated.
In her goodwill message, Hajiya Aishatu Bura, National President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), emphasised the media’s role in amplifying women’s political voices.
“Every woman’s voice counts not only in the polling booth but in the public square, the media, and the policymaking process,” she said.
She added that societies embracing women’s inclusion in governance “have witnessed transparency, compassion, and accountability.”
The conference ended with a unified call for the urgent passage of the Reserved Seats Bill and renewed mobilisation of women voters nationwide.