The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has reaffirmed his commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in politics. Speaking at the Media Town Hall on Women’s Political Participation held at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Ogundoyin emphasized the importance of women’s participation in politics, noting that despite their significant presence, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions in Nigeria.
Ogundoyin expressed support for legislative reforms that advance women’s political involvement and create an enabling environment for inclusive governance and gender parity in Nigeria. He also commended the 10th Senate Retreat of the Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution for proposing two bills aimed at increasing women’s representation in government.
The bills propose altering the Constitution to provide special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly, as well as affirmative action for women in political party administration and ministerial positions. Ogundoyin assured that the Conference of Speakers will support any initiative that promotes inclusivity for youth and women.
The Conference Chairman also highlighted the stark reality of women’s underrepresentation in decision-making roles, citing the 2023 elections where only one woman ran for President, 92 for Senatorial positions, and 286 for the House of Representatives. He noted that at the end of the election, only 4 women secured Senate Seats and 16 won seats in the House of Representatives.
Ogundoyin reiterated the commitment of the Conference of Speakers to prioritizing gender equality and empowering women in politics, inspired by the progress made in other African countries and advanced nations worldwide. He emphasized that the Conference of Speakers is ready to support other stakeholders to achieve gender parity and inclusive governance.
As the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ogundoyin also highlighted the situation in Oyo State, where only two women won the 2023 elections into the State House of Assembly out of 32 members. While this represents an improvement from the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly, where only one female legislator was elected, it still underscores the pressing need to address the dismal narrative surrounding women’s participation and representation in politics.
The Conference Chairman’s commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women in politics is a significant step towards achieving inclusive governance in Nigeria. As the country continues to strive for gender parity, the support of State Legislatures, as pledged by Ogundoyin, will be crucial in creating an enabling environment for women’s participation in politics.
