The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development has urged Nigerian women to unite across ethnic, religious, regional, and socioeconomic lines and leverage their collective strength to influence the country’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister made the call on Tuesday at the public presentation of Rising Beyond Borders, authored by the Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), Rt. Hon. Dame Esther Uduehi, PhD, as part of activities to mark the organisation’s 30th anniversary, held at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Abuja.

She said the mobilisation of women must go beyond numbers to promote informed, responsible and purposeful participation in governance and elections.

According to her, the 10 Million platform represents an opportunity to connect women at the grassroots, articulate their priorities, understand public policy and translate their collective concerns into constructive civic engagement.

She said the slogan, “One Voice. One Movement. One Choice,” should represent unity of purpose among women as the country approaches the 2027 elections.

The minister also called for stronger links between women’s political and economic empowerment, noting that women who are economically secure and knowledgeable about their rights are better positioned to make independent choices, demand accountability and influence policies.

She described Rising Beyond Borders as more than a biography, saying it was a reflection on possibility, participation and the responsibility of one generation to create opportunities for the next.

The minister congratulated Uduehi for documenting her journey and urged young women and girls to draw inspiration from the book by acquiring knowledge, building their skills, finding their voices and participating in leadership.

Women’s participation critical to democracy — NILDS DG

In his keynote address, the Director-General of NILDS, Professor Abubakar Suleiman, described the occasion as an important chapter in the continuing story of women’s participation in Nigeria’s public life.

He commended NILOWV for its longstanding commitment to civic engagement, advocacy and the promotion of women’s participation in democratic processes.

Suleiman said women’s participation in governance remained an important component of democratic development, stressing that women aspiring to public office needed to understand electoral processes and the responsibilities that come with political leadership.

He noted that democratic participation extended beyond holding elective office to include responsible voting, engagement with public institutions, contributing to public debate, demanding accountability, volunteering in communities and promoting democratic values.

The NILDS Director-General also called for sustained collaboration among democratic institutions, the legislature, civil society organisations, academia, the media, private sector, development partners, traditional institutions and citizens.

He said no single institution could address all the challenges confronting Nigeria’s democracy, adding that collaboration was essential to building inclusive and participatory governance.

Suleiman commended Uduehi for her vision and commitment to advancing women’s participation and civic engagement and said the experiences captured in the book could provide a platform for mentoring younger Nigerians, particularly young women aspiring to public leadership.

Uduehi: Determination can break every barrier

The author of Rising Beyond Borders and Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of NILOWV, Rt. Hon. Dame Esther Uduehi, said the central message of the book was that there should be no limit to what a determined woman could achieve.

“There’s never a limit to where you can go in life. You have to be determined. And if you are determined, let nothing stop you,” Uduehi said.

She urged women not to allow social, cultural, political or other barriers to define the limits of their aspirations.

Uduehi, however, stressed that overcoming barriers should not be an individual achievement, urging women who succeed to carry others along.

She also linked the message of the book to the 2027 elections, encouraging women contesting political offices to support credible female candidates who could make a meaningful impact and create opportunities for more women to enter political leadership.

Reflecting on women’s political representation in Nigeria, she acknowledged that women had not yet reached the level of political participation they deserved.

“We haven’t reached where we should be politically wise,” she said, expressing optimism that growing awareness and sustained advocacy would eventually lead to greater representation.

She urged women to continue supporting efforts to increase their presence in political leadership.

Book reflects realities of Nigerian women — Reviewer

The book reviewer, Prof. Funmi Para-Mallam, described Rising Beyond Borders as a compelling reflection of the Nigerian woman’s experience, capturing the complexities, limitations and realities that shape the journey from birth through adulthood.

She said the book traces Uduehi’s evolution from a young Nigerian girl to a woman navigating the intricate demands of culture, education, marriage, motherhood, career, leadership and social change.

According to Para-Mallam, the book demonstrates how resilience, determination and a sense of purpose can enable women to confront and overcome the challenges that arise throughout their lives.

She said the experiences documented in the book offered valuable insights into the different stages and circumstances that shape women’s lives and leadership journeys in Nigeria.

NILOWV: Women should vote as bloc, demand accountability

The National President of NILOWV, Hon. Irene Awuna, said the public presentation of Rising Beyond Borders was particularly significant as the organisation commenced activities marking its 30th anniversary.

Awuna said Nigerian women continued to face cultural, economic and political barriers that limited their access to leadership positions, stressing that the space for women in governance must be expanded.

She said NILOWV deliberately chose the occasion to stimulate conversations around governance, leadership and political inclusion while encouraging the women’s rights movement to remain resilient in demanding greater political space.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, Awuna urged Nigerian women to consolidate their voting strength behind credible female candidates.

“Let us put together our votes as women. Vote in bloc and demand accountability,” she said.

She maintained that women could achieve greater bargaining power by acting collectively and consulting among themselves on issues affecting their political and socioeconomic interests.

According to her, women should support female candidates who have the capacity to make an impact and create pathways for more women to participate in leadership.

Awuna also highlighted the importance of NILOWV’s 30-year journey of voter mobilisation, civic education, advocacy and leadership development, saying the organisation would continue to promote women’s meaningful participation in Nigeria’s democracy.

She called for Rising Beyond Borders to be made available in universities, libraries, women-led organisations, mentorship programmes and other institutions as a resource for discussions on women’s leadership, political participation and democratic development.