The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has strongly advocated for the Special Seats Bill, describing it as “not just important, but imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance.”
She called for collective action to ensure its swift passage noting the crucial role of legislative reforms in advancing women’s political inclusion in Nigeria.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim made these remarks at the “Voice of Women virtual summit,” themed “Using Grassroots Influence to Power Females in Governance” organised by Women Radio 91.7 FM.
The summit convened a diverse group of grassroots women, female leaders, policymakers, and advocates dedicated to empowering women in the nation’s political landscape.
According to the Minister, the unity of women is a powerful force capable of moving “mountains,” emphasising that this solidarity was essential for Nigeria’s prosperity and unity.
Her commitment to the Special Seats Bill’s passage was a recurring theme throughout her address, highlighting its foundational importance for achieving gender parity in governance.
“When women unite, mountains move. The Special Seats Bill is not just important, it’s imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance. We must unite for Nigeria’s prosperity and unity,” she declared.
The virtual summit served as a crucial platform for robust discussions on the multifaceted challenges hindering women’s political participation and for charting a course for effective strategies.
The Minister consistently stressed the importance of unity, comprehensive legislative reforms, and active grassroots engagement as pillars for strengthening women’s indispensable role in national development.
Similarly, Gill Lever, British Deputy High Commissioner to Abuja, urged women not to allow societal pressures regarding balancing multiple roles to deter them from governance, emphasizing that women, when united, could become an “unstoppable force”.
Grassroots support crucial for bill’s success
However, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, President of the Women in Politics Forum, cautioned that the Special Seats Bill’s success hinges critically on the robust support of grassroots women. She stressed the imperative to “educate every woman to vote wisely, not out of ignorance,” highlighting the need for informed participation to ensure the bill’s efficacy.
Taiwo Adeleye, Programs Officer for the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, presented groundbreaking data that shed light on the complex reasons why grassroots women often do not vote for women.
This data, supported by the MacArthur Foundation and collected from surveys across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT, reinforced the urgent need for strategic engagement with political parties, grassroots women voters, and cultural custodians.
The findings were revealing: 82% of respondents cited the lack of women presented as candidates by political parties as the primary reason for voting for men. Furthermore, 76% indicated being influenced by party leaders, their husbands, spiritual leaders, and cultural norms that traditionally discourage women from leadership roles. Perceptions of arrogance and inaccessibility among women in power (68%) and perceived inexperience (42%) also contributed to the reluctance to vote for female candidates.
Practical strategies for women’s political advancement
Field practitioners – Sherifat Taleat, Executive Director of IyaMopo Centre for Peace, and Edidiong Enang, Program Manager of Vilonia International Foundation, who worked directly with grassroots women in Oyo and Akwa Ibom states, offered practical advice.
They advocated for “tactical unity” through organized blocs of women voters, urged women in office to maintain accessibility to their constituencies, and stressed the importance of understanding community needs to tailor agendas effectively.
Further insights were provided by Bilikisu Yakubu of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative, who contested elections in 2019. She advised aspiring female politicians to engage with grassroots women well in advance of election cycles, emphasizing continuous interaction over last-minute appeals. Hon. Rukayatu Shittu of Kwara State House of Assembly reinforced this, highlighting humility and continuous engagement with the grassroots as key virtues for political success.
The summit concluded with a comprehensive call to action, urging political parties to make deliberate efforts to field and endorse more female candidates. It also emphasized the need for women to continuously dialogue with cultural and religious leaders to shift perceptions.
For women in governance, the call was to build trust through continuous engagement and regular scorecards, while aspiring candidates were encouraged to initiate early, localized grassroots engagement.
The importance of building alliances with the media to amplify women’s impacts and fostering unity among women to support both current and aspiring female leaders was also strongly stressed.