First Lady Mrs. Remi Tinubu has emphasized the need for women to learn how to acquire power, acknowledging significant progress under President Bola Tinubu’s administration but highlighting persistent cultural and social barriers.
Speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association’s Spotlight Initiative themed “Re-thinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance,” she identified societal norms, discriminatory practices, structural issues, and financial challenges as obstacles to women’s political participation.
“To achieve gender parity, we must take actionable steps,” Mrs. Tinubu stated. “For example, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has eliminated financial barriers by making nomination forms for grassroots elective positions free, enabling capable women to engage in politics without prohibitive costs.”
Senator Tinubu, through a statement by her media aide Busola Kukoyi on Monday, praised the Federal House of Representatives for passing a Bill to reserve 74 seats for women in the National Assembly. She highlighted the gender-friendly leadership in the Senate, echoing President Bola Tinubu’s sentiment that “power is not served à la carte; you have to learn how to obtain it.” She emphasized the role of older women in mentoring younger ones and the importance of education in empowering women.
“Education is the cornerstone of empowerment. Improving access to education for girls and women equips them with the necessary skills for effective political participation. Public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs are crucial for shifting societal attitudes and dismantling stereotypes that hinder women’s political involvement,” she added.
ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Rt. Hon. Hadija Memounatou Ibrahimah, urged Mrs. Tinubu to champion better representation for women in governance across the region, noting her impactful contributions to women’s issues. “Women constitute half of the population of ECOWAS member states, yet only 17% are Parliamentarians and 24% are Ministers.
It’s time to address this underrepresentation,” Ibrahimah remarked. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, affirmed the Senate’s commitment to prioritizing women’s participation in governance, pledging to “redefine the power of women in governance.”
