The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. (Mrs.) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has reiterated the urgent need for stronger female representation in Nigeria’s political and business sectors, describing the current gender disparity as a major obstacle to inclusive national development.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum held in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister emphasized that women must be given greater opportunities to contribute meaningfully to decision-making processes across all levels of governance and economic planning.
According to her, “The time has come for Nigeria to close the gender gap. We cannot continue to marginalize half of our population and expect meaningful growth. Women must be involved not just as voters or spectators, but as leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers.”
Citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and international bodies such as the United Nations Women (UN Women), the Minister lamented that women currently occupy less than 10% of elective positions in Nigeria and control an even smaller fraction of national economic resources and corporate leadership roles.
She called on political parties, business associations, civil society organisations, and development partners to support policies and reforms that guarantee women equal access to political tickets, leadership training, funding opportunities, and boardroom representation.
Kennedy-Ohanenye also announced plans by the Ministry to launch a nationwide campaign aimed at mentoring young girls, supporting female entrepreneurs through access to credit, and encouraging women to contest elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Stakeholders at the event, including lawmakers, diplomats, and women leaders, welcomed the Minister’s remarks, pledging their support for gender-inclusive policies. Representatives from ECOWAS and the African Union present at the forum noted that countries with higher female participation in governance tend to record stronger human development indices and economic resilience.
The Minister concluded by urging the media to spotlight more women in leadership and success stories, saying that representation goes beyond policies—it also requires changing societal perceptions and creating visible role models.
This advocacy comes as global conversations continue around achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), with Nigeria working to improve its ranking on the Global Gender Gap Index and empower more women across every facet of national life.