Abuja: Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, alongside the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, has called on the National Assembly to support the Special Seats for Women Bill. This appeal was made during a one-day dialogue involving Ooni and legislators from the South-West Zone.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the dialogue, which took place in Abuja, saw participation from traditional rulers, parliamentarians, civil society groups, and women leaders. The main objective was to bolster advocacy for the Special Seats for Women Bill, aiming to enhance representation and gender balance in governance.

Ogunwusi emphasized that women possess leadership capabilities and can significantly contribute to national development if afforded opportunities. He advocated for increased inclusion and participation of women, expressing optimism about eventual positive outcomes. He also urged the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, to champion the campaign for special women’s seat bill.

In his remarks, Prof. Sulaiman highlighted that the Special Seat Bill aims to rectify the long-standing structural imbalance in Nigeria’s political representation by allocating additional seats for women in legislative bodies. He pointed out that the current frameworks have not resulted in equitable gender outcomes, with women holding less than 5 percent of legislative seats nationally.

He further elaborated on successful implementations of affirmative measures across Africa, citing examples from Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Senegal. These countries have seen increased women’s representation and transformative legislative outcomes, showcasing the effectiveness of affirmative action in improving democratic governance and inclusive national development.

Mrs. Ene Obi, a leading gender advocate, highlighted the male-dominated nature of Nigeria’s parliament, noting the minimal female representation among federal lawmakers. She stressed the importance of women being involved in decision-making processes, particularly on issues directly affecting them.