A group, the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation, has called for collective action to promote women’s inclusion in politics, urging political parties to make deliberate efforts to field and endorse more female candidates.

The Foundation also urged women to engage in continuous dialogue with cultural and religious leaders to challenge patriarchal norms and stereotypes that limit their participation in governance.

The group gave the charge, yesterday, during a virtual summit, themed “Using Grassroots Influence to Power Females in Governance,” where various stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, and advocates, came together to discuss the importance of women’s participation in governance.

Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who stressed the importance of unity and collective action in achieving women’s inclusion in politics, noted that the Special Seats Bill is imperative for Nigeria’s democratic balance.

“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,” she said.

British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Gill Lever, said that women must unite to become unstoppable.

She urged them not to allow society to judge them on balancing multiple roles with governance.

Meanwhile, the Foundation’s research findings, presented by the Programmes Officer, Taiwo Adeleye, revealed that 82 per cent of respondents cited the lack of women presented as candidates by political parties as a major reason for voting men over women.

Also, the President of Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu, warned that without grassroots women’s support, the Special Seats Bill would fail, saying: “We must educate every woman to vote wisely.”

Executive Director of IyaMopo Centre for Peace, Sherifat Taleat, and Bilikisu Yakubu of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative called for tactical unity among women, urging those in office to make themselves accessible to their constituencies.