The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned Nigeria against continued exclusion of women from political leadership, insisting that to walk tall in the emerging world order a nation needs both genders.
Speaking in Abuja, at a High-Level Roundtable with Media Professionals on the bill for the Reserved Seats for Women aimed at increasing women’s representation in Parliament, the UNDP Resident Representative for Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, explained that the debate over the proposed Special Seats Bill for Women must move beyond emotion and politics, stressing
that women’s political participation is now a strategic requirement for Nigeria’s survival and leadership in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence, demographic disruptions, mineral politics and geopolitical rivalry.
She noted that: The world, Nigeria must navigate today, is fiercely competitive. Countries are contesting on ideas, values and narratives. Nigeria must navigate a world of a shifting geopolitics, rapid technological transformation artificial intelligence, the internet, of things demographic pressures, and contested influence. Nigeria cannot walk into that future with half its population excluded from shaping decisions. Nigeria cannot compete globally with less than 5% female representation. We need different voices and ideas around the table to position Nigeria as a great leader. We are looking at inclusive governance young people, women, persons with disabilities. When Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds”
She decried Nigeria’s current representation of women less than 5%, as incompatible with the country’s ambition to lead Africa, stressing that: “Global data consistently shows a direct link between women’s political leadership and national progress in economic growth, health, education, and technological innovation. There is clear evidence. When women sit at the decision-making table, countries do better economically, socially, technologically.
She cited countries like Rwanda, Senegal, Mexico and Sierra Leone, as examples where gender quotas unlocked political stability, innovation and stronger governance systems, stressing that Nigeria risks missing out on Beijing+30 Gains.
She noted that by comparison, “Nigeria still has less than 5% female representation in political decision-making, with only four women in the Senate and about 17 in the House of Representatives. There is a lot more that can be done.”
She further commended Nigerian advocates for their effort and energy in pushing gender inclusion, stating that: “A few days ago, I saw men and women engaging legislators, offering creative solutions, advocating that we make history together.
Referencing this year’s Beijing +30 anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, review, She said global progress on gender equality remained uneven, with Nigeria’s progress remaining far off the mark, especially in political participation, noting that the gaps are still huge, “We are far away from gender equality in political leadership. The 16 Days of Activism remind us that it cannot be just 16 days; it must be 365 days of responsibility. The bill aligns with Nigeria’s international obligations under SDG 5, SDG 16 and CEDAW. We feel it is an opportunity to create momentum for the imperatives under Beijing +30 and under the Sustainable Development Goals.”
According to her, around the world, countries are using special seats or quota systems as temporary tools to correct historical and structural exclusion.
“This is not tokenism. It is a proven mechanism to level the field where history has tilted it. Women’s Leadership Now a Security and Development Issue”.
While Nigerian political debates often frame women’s representation as charity, fairness or morality, Ms Attafuah, shifted the frame entirely calling it an economic, security and development imperative.
“Inclusive governance is now directly linked to a nation’s ability to survive global shocks from digital disruption to mineral tensions and geopolitical competition. In a world driven by AI, demographic explosion and contested global influence, Nigeria needs every voice, every idea, every perspective to compete,” she said.
She however reaffirmed that UNDP’s involvement in supporting the process at the invitation of the National Assembly, was anchored on evidence that inclusive governance drives national progress.
She said: “We have been working with the National Assembly, supporting consensus building and communication, and leveraging the newly launched African Facility for Women in Political Leadership, led by a Nigerian Regional Director. Nigeria Must Not Sleepwalk Into the Future. Today is a follow-up on earlier conversations. A few weeks ago, we discussed the role of women in political leadership and the special seats bill for women. what more can be done, and how we can bring our assets together to take this forward. We remain apolitical. We have been helping with communication and clarifying what we are collectively trying to seek promoting inclusive governance and economic growth.”
The UNDP Resident Representative, charged Nigerian media professionals, to be active in helping to dismantle stereotypes and misinformation about women in politics.
She said: “The media does not only mirror society — it shapes society’s imagination If Nigerians cannot imagine women as leaders, it becomes difficult to elect them.”
On her part, the President of the Women in Politics Forum, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, stressed that women’s political participation can only be achieved when it is backed with legislation.
She said: “Why do we need legislation to support women’s political participation? we have worked across two political parties to see if we could get it from that angle. It didn’t work out for us. Looking at other countries, we have also realised that without legislation we would not be doing much.”
Ifendu commended all the support from partners such as , UNDP, UN Women, the Canadian government, EU, British High Commission, and Nigerian men within and outside the parliament, who are making sure the bill is passed.
Stakeholders were urged to act decisively as the postponed vote on the Special Seats Bill approaches, calling it an opportunity for Nigeria to make history.
The Women Special Seats Bill is a vital step toward increasing women’s representation and building a more inclusive democracy in Nigeria.
