Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, has issued a powerful call to action for political officeholders across all parties to turn their words into meaningful actions regarding gender equity. Her bold stance came during her speech at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association spotlight initiative, held in the alternate Chamber of the Senate at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Senator Tinubu’s speech addressed the ongoing and critical need to overcome gender disparities in Nigeria’s political landscape. She lauded the House of Representatives for the significant milestone of passing a bill for the second reading that seeks to allocate 70 out of 360 legislative seats to women. This move, she emphasized, is a crucial step toward enhancing female participation in politics and governance.
“To fully achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk,” Tinubu asserted, challenging political leaders to act decisively in promoting gender equity. She highlighted the efforts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to eliminate financial barriers by offering free nomination forms for elective positions to women at the grassroots level.
Senator Tinubu underscored the importance of constitutional amendments to solidify gender equity in political representation. “I commend the House of Representatives for passing the bill seeking to reserve 74 seats for women in the National Assembly. This initiative encourages more female participation in politics and governance,” she said.
Expressing confidence in the current Senate leadership, Tinubu urged the 10th National Assembly to support women’s involvement in politics. “Nigerian women are smart and intelligent and can work alongside our male counterparts without friction for the good and development of our country,” she stated.
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The First Lady’s advocacy comes at a time when gender equity in politics is gaining momentum globally. Her call to action is expected to inspire political leaders and stakeholders in Nigeria to prioritize gender-inclusive policies and practices.
The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association aims to promote gender equity and enhance the political participation of women across the ECOWAS member states. Their initiatives focus on addressing gender disparities and empowering women to take on leadership roles in politics and governance.
