With poor representation of women in Nigeria’s public sphere, despite making almost 51 percent of the population, a concerted call has been made to ensure the Reserved Seats for Women’s Bill address this national concern.
This formed the conversations at the 9th Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2025) held recently at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, convened Nigeria’s foremost women leaders, policymakers, development partners, legislators, and advocates under the theme “Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action.”
Coinciding with Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, the event reaffirmed women’s central role in shaping the nation’s democratic, economic, and social future.
Delivering the President’s goodwill message, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, praised Nigerian women as “the heartbeat of our country undaunted, unyielding, and rising to shape a future of equity and progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women as “protectors of families, drivers of innovation, and catalysts of the one-trillion-dollar economy we are building together.” The President described VOW2025 as “a song of unity, pride, and enduring hope for a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.”
In her keynote address, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that Nigerian women have always played defining roles in shaping the nation’s destiny from the Aba Women’s Protest of 1929 to the struggle for democracy in the 1990s. She decried the nation’s low level of female representation in governance, currently below 6 percent and called for immediate legislative reform.
“This is not an act of benevolence but an act of justice and strategic necessity. Democracy without women is incomplete.” The Minister further commended President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledged federal support for Women Radio 91.7FM through the training of ten female journalists nationwide.
During the high-level panel discussion on the Reserved Seats Bill, participants reaffirmed that equitable representation is essential to Nigeria’s democratic integrity and global standing. Lawmakers, advocates, and development partners affirmed the bill represents a historic opportunity to strengthen inclusion and ensure women occupy leadership positions across all levels of government.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Chairperson House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara declared that women’s underrepresentation in governance will soon become history.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the legislature to deliver on the Reserved Seats Bill, pledging that “this National Assembly will be remembered as one that advanced justice, equity, and balanced representation.”
Voice of Women Conference and Awards Convener, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, described the conference as a movement of Nigerian women using collective action to shape the nation’s political future. She called on women to unite beyond party lines, bridge the gap between elite and grassroots voices, and build the solidarity needed to influence national policy and governance.
“Our grassroots women are Nigeria’s most powerful voting bloc. When women support women, we become the decisive power that determines elections and defines governance.”
The conference also featured a compelling fireside conversation with former Deputy President of South Africa and global advocate for women’s empowerment Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. She urged Nigerian leaders and male allies to stand with women in driving equality.
“The struggle for gender equality is not for women alone it is a collective responsibility. Africa cannot win its future without women, and women cannot lead without the active support of men who share the vision of an inclusive society. Nigeria has the potential to lead Africa into a future where equity is the norm, not the exception. The world is watching Nigeria, and Nigeria must not lag behind.”
In the awards segment, exceptional institutions and individuals were honoured for advancing the cause of women and families across Nigeria. Honourees included Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), Guinness Nigeria Plc, and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority.
Individual recognitions went to Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (Lifetime Achievement Award), Meyiwa Vera (Social Media Innovation Award), and Dame Esther Uduehi, Ph.D. (Woman of the Year), with a posthumous award presented in honour of the iconic Late Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti.
