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The Voice of Women virtual summit, themed “Using Grassroots Influence to Power Females in Governance,” brought together grassroott women, female leaders, policymakers and advocates on action on women’s political inclusion in Nigeria. Keynote speakers, including Hon. Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasised the importance of unity, legislative reforms, grassroots engagement, emphasising women’s indispensable role in national development and urging collective action.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated, “When women unite, mountains move. The Special Seats Bill is not just important, it’s imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance. We must unite for Nigeria’s prosperity and unity. Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring the swift passage of the Special Seats Bill.
Other speakers included Gill Lever, British Deputy High Commissioner to Abuja, who noted that women must unite to become an unstoppable force and urged women not to allow society to judge them on balancing multiple roles with governance.
Barrister Ebere Ifendu, President of Women in Politics Forum warned that the Special Seats Bill will fail without grassroots women’s support and noted that “We must educate every women to vote wisely, not out of ignorance.”
Taiwo Adeleye, Programs Officer for Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, presented a national groundbreaking data on why Grassroots Women Don’t Vote for Women. The data supported by MacArthur Foundation surveyed women across Nigeria’s 36 states and FCT on barriers to women’s political inclusion reinforcing urgent need for engagement with political parties, grassroots women voters and custodians of our culture. The data revealed that 82% respondents cited lack of women not presented as candidates by political parties as major reason for voting men over women. 76% respondents said they were influenced by party leaders, their husbands, spiritual leaders and a culture that women cannot lead. 68% cited a lack of empathy for women in power who are arrogant and inaccessible while 42% cited inexperience as reason for not voting women.
Sherifat Taleat Executive Director, IyaMopo Centre for Peace and Edidiong Enang Program Manager of Vilonia International Foundation who both worked on the field with grassroots women in Oyo and Akwa Ibom states called for tactical unity organised blocs of women voters, advised women in office to make themselves accessible to their constituencies and urged women to understand community needs and tailor agendas to suit their needs.
Bilikisu Yakubu of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative who contested elections in 2019 urged female aspirants not to wait for election time before engaging grassroots women.
Hon. Rukayatu Shittu of Kwara State House of Assembly emphasised humility as a virtue for political success urging any woman that wishes to go into politics to identify with the grassroots with continuous engagement and to be accessible.
Irene Awunah Ikyegh President The League of Women Voters of Nigeria rallied stakeholders to collaborate and support women candidates unconditionally.
The Virtual meeting concluded with a call to action to:
- Political parties to make conceretd and deliberate efforts to field and endorse more female candidates.
- Women to continuously dialogue with cultural and religious leaders
- Women in governance that trust-building are essential and continuous engagement with their constituencies with regular scorecards is important
- Women Candidates should start early engagement at the grassroot in local languages and not wait till election time.
- Women should build alliances with the media to amplify their impacts
- Women should come together as one to support women in leadership and aspring women in governance
