By Omonu YG Nelson
ABUJA, NIGERIA- Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has acknowledged the significant barriers that women in the West African sub-region face in achieving gender parity.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) event at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, on Monday, 22 July 2024 Tinubu emphasised the need for women’s active participation in politics, stating:
“Despite progress, significant barriers still exist. We must rethink women’s proportional representation in governance.”
Tinubu commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) for removing financial barriers for women in politics and highlighted the success of gender quotas in countries like Sweden, Norway, and Spain, leading to more inclusive governance. She urged governments to enforce gender quotas through legal frameworks and monitoring systems, saying:
“Governments must take the bold step to kickstart the journey to an enduring democracy of quality representation.”
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The First Lady expressed confidence in Nigerian women’s abilities, stating:
“Nigerian women are smart and intelligent and can work alongside our male counterparts, without friction, for the good and development of our country.”
She thanked ECOFEPA for commitment to achieving 30% women representation in parliament, saying:
“The journey towards achieving 30% women representation in our parliament is achievable once we take the bold step to kickstart the journey to an enduring democracy of quality representation.”
The event aimed to promote gender balance and increase women’s participation in governance, aligning with the ECOWAS statute requiring 30% women representation in parliament.