By Joy Omagha Idam
The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday renewed the call for increased women’s participation in governance, urging West African leaders to dismantle structural barriers limiting women in political leadership and space.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu, made the call while speaking at the Economic Community of Female Parliamentarian (ECOFEPA) Forum and Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Represented by Hajiya Laila Barau, wife of the Deputy Senate President, at the opening of the ECOFEPA Forum, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja, with the theme: Advancing Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance, she said women remain underrepresented despite constituting more than half of the population across ECOWAS states.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that Nigeria’s current administration has increased the appointment of women into strategic leadership positions, compensating for the decline in elected female representatives. She commended the National Assembly for the ongoing legislative efforts to introduce gender quotas, insisting that “the time for action is now if the region must build an equitable society.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who was represented by the mathematical Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, commended ECOFEPA for its sustained advocacy.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting programmes that enhance women’s political participation, economic empowerment and leadership across the ECOWAS bloc.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Hon. Veronica Kadie Sisay, applauded Senator Tinubu for her consistent support for gender parity initiatives. She declared the forum an important platform for strengthening advocacy for proportional representation across West Africa, stressing: “ECOFEPA-ACTION! ECOWAS WOMEN—ACTION NOW!”
Sisay also paid glowing tribute to past and present ECOFEPA members, founding leaders and Nigerian female parliamentarians, noting that their contributions have strengthened the association’s regional influence. She revealed that ECOFEPA now recognises all female parliamentarians at state and national levels as full members, enhancing collaboration across member states.
The ECOFEPA President highlighted several gender gaps across the sub-region, pointing out that most ECOWAS countries fall below the 35% benchmark for women’s representation. While Senegal records over 42% female lawmakers due to strong quota laws, Nigeria remains at 6%. She urged Member States to adopt proportional representation and reserved seats to reverse the trend.
In her remark, the Deputy Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly and Chairperson of the Conference of Nigerian Female Parliamentarians (CONFEPA), Rt. Hon. Bolaji Olagbaju, emphasised that gender balance is “a fundamental democratic right,” commending ECOWAS leadership for sustaining conversations on inclusive governance.
Panel discussions during the event examined “Strengthening Governance Towards the Realisation of ECOWAS Vision 2050” and the “Impact of Gender Parity Laws and Allocation of Reserved Seats.”
The 25th anniversary celebration continues as ECOWAS female parliamentarians reaffirm their commitment to pushing for stronger political inclusion for women across the region.
Earlier the second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Hajara Traore, Appreciated the Nigerian Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Hospitality accorded delegates.
She commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her experience in Parliament which in turn influenced the choice of them for ECOFEPA. She also praised her for honouring the invitation to come declare the conference open.
While celebrating Madame Veronica Kadie Sisay, she declared that “she has shown that female leadership is good for mainstreaming gender equality”.
Stressing that the election of Madam Joy Tailor as Vice President of Liberia, broke the ceiling and paved way for African women to hold higher elective positions.
Hajara Traore stated that ” The Voice of Women in ECOWAS must be amplified in order to change mentality and mind set. We should tell our story in the next 25 years differently. It should be more inclusive. She congratulated ECOFEPA”.
On a lighter note she called on all the He for She in the meeting to give the Women a standing Ovation for how far women have gone and remained focused on achieving the 35% affirmative action.
Several Women Groups graced the occasion. Princess Edna, President NCWS Nigeria, Led the National Council of Women Societies, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim National Chairperson Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, led NAWOJ delegation, other female bodies adorned in colourful attires graced the occasion.