Executive Chair of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, has said Nigeria does not lack brilliant women but continues to refuse to fully trust, include and empower them.

She made the statement while delivering a keynote address titled “Step Up and Lead” at the 39th Annual Conference and Rally of the National Governing Body of Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria over the weekend

“I stand before you today not only as the Executive Chair of WARDC, but as a woman who has spent over 25 years listening to women whose voices were ignored, whose pain was normalised, and whose leadership was discouraged,” she said.

According to her, the message to step up and lead should be understood as a call to action. “Nigeria does not suffer from a lack of brilliant women. Nigeria suffers from a refusal to fully trust, include, and empower them.”

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi noted that women across Nigeria have consistently demonstrated competence and leadership in homes, communities, civil society, business and public service, yet remain largely absent from political and decision-making spaces. “The issue is not women’s readiness to lead. The issue is the structural, cultural, political, and psychological barriers that continue to constrain women’s leadership and participation.”

She referenced Nigerian women who have stepped into leadership positions despite resistance, including first female Chairman of First bank, Ibukun Awosika; Public Policy expert and former vice president of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili; Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Deputy Secretary-General United Nations, Amina Mohammed; Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.

“These women did not wait for society to become comfortable with women’s leadership. They stepped into spaces that were not designed for them and they delivered excellence.”

She questioned why the same few women continue to be celebrated. “For every woman who breaks through, thousands are held back by culture, violence, poverty, and silence.”

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi described gender inequality in Nigeria as something women experience daily in their bodies, homes, classrooms and workplaces. Referring to maternal mortality, she said women die “not because solutions do not exist, but because their lives are not prioritised.”

On girls’ education, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi stressed, “These are not just statistics. They are futures interrupted,” referring to girls forced out of school by early marriage and poverty, particularly in Northern Nigeria.”

She said cultural expectations make it difficult for women to step into leadership roles. “Women are taught to endure, not to challenge. To sacrifice, not to demand. To survive quietly, not to lead boldly.”

According to her, women who speak out are labelled difficult, while those who insist on justice are told to be patient. “But patience has cost women their lives.”

Speaking on migration, she said young Nigerian women risking dangerous journeys are doing so out of desperation. “It is not because they lack ambition. It is because opportunity is unequal. It is because leadership spaces are closed. It is because hope has been denied.”

On women’s political participation, she said that exclusion is systemic. While recalling her experience in political spaces, informed that participation was permitted but leadership was withheld.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi noted that women are often present as mobilisers and supporters but excluded when decisions are made.

Calling for action, the human rights lawyer said, “Those of us who have access to education, platforms, and power must not keep quiet. Silence protects the system. Action changes it.”

Speaking on WARDC’s work, she said, “we decided that silence was not an option,” noting that the organisation has supported women with legal aid and stood with survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

She added that, Step up and lead’ is not a motivational phrase. It is a moral demand, stressing that Nigeria’s future depends on whether women are allowed not just to survive, but to lead. “History will not ask whether we were comfortable. It will ask whether we were brave.”