By Joy Omagha Idam
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has called on the National Assembly and political parties to take deliberate steps to protect women participating in partisan politics, stressing that meaningful political inclusion goes far beyond legislation.
The Minister made the call while delivering a keynote address at the maiden National Women’s Summit organised by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abuja on Saturday. The summit, themed “Inclusion in Politics and Governance: Addressing Barriers to Women’s Participation and Representation,” brought together political leaders, stakeholders and advocates committed to advancing women’s participation in governance.
Describing the summit as a conversation that transcends partisan politics, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu said it was fundamentally about national development, justice and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
She lamented the persistent underrepresentation of women in elective and appointive positions despite the fact that women make up almost half of Nigeria’s population.
According to her, Nigeria’s democratic journey cannot achieve its full potential if more than half of its population remains excluded from the institutions where critical decisions are made.
The Minister noted that Nigerian women have consistently distinguished themselves in governance, diplomacy, academia, business, entrepreneurship, science, agriculture, civil society and mentorship, yet their representation in elected offices remains disproportionately low.
She attributed the imbalance to longstanding structural and systemic barriers, including the high cost of political participation, cultural stereotypes, political violence and intimidation during elections, unequal access to party structures, inadequate political financing, and deeply rooted social norms that discourage many competent women from contesting elective positions.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that the consequences of these barriers extend beyond gender inequality, noting that they also weaken Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Drawing from her international engagements as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she said countries that have intentionally promoted women’s political inclusion have recorded stronger democratic institutions and improved economic performance.
She cited African countries such as Tanzania and Namibia, both led by female presidents, as examples of nations that have embraced affirmative measures, constitutional guarantees and deliberate political commitment to significantly increase women’s representation.
“These experiences remind us that progress does not happen by chance; it happens through political will,” she stated.
The Minister also threw her weight behind the Reserved Seats for Women Bill currently before the National Assembly, describing it not as a favour to women but as a democratic corrective aimed at addressing historical imbalances that have limited women’s participation in governance.
She emphasised that promoting women’s inclusion is a collective responsibility for both men and women, urging stakeholders to adopt practical measures that will open up the political space.
Calling on political parties to lead the process, Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu described them as the primary gatekeepers of democratic participation and urged them to intentionally create opportunities for women to emerge as candidates, party leaders, strategists, negotiators and policymakers.
She advocated transparent nomination processes, affordable nomination fees, mentorship programmes, leadership development initiatives and stronger protection against political violence targeting women.
The Minister commended APGA for convening the summit and initiating what she described as a critical national conversation, adding that regardless of political affiliation, all political actors have a responsibility to provide capable women with meaningful opportunities to contribute to nation-building.
She maintained that expanding women’s participation in politics aligns with Nigeria’s constitutional ideals, international commitments and broader national development objectives.
This was contained in a Statement issued By Dr Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.