The House of Representatives has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Women aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance.
In Abuja on Thursday, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, emphasized that the partnership seeks to promote the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill as well as the Bill on Women’s Parliamentary Seats.
Kalu highlighted that the advocacy will extend beyond the parliament to include rural areas, ensuring constituents understand the benefits of increased female participation in governance.
“The advocacy should not only be within the people’s parliament alone but should extend to the rural areas. Constituents need to see the comparative analysis between our country and others, understand what we have been missing, and recognize the potential gains from embracing this path,” Kalu stated.
He stressed the importance of building the capacity of women and encouraging them to support female aspirants. He noted that women should be seen as valuable contributors to national development rather than competitors or antagonists to men.
UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, acknowledged the critical role of the National Assembly in addressing the underrepresentation of women. She pointed out that only about 4 percent of women are elected to the National Assembly, and merely seven women serve in the 45-member federal cabinet.
“This is a challenge we must all work together to overcome. Your leadership, dedication, and passion are essential in this journey,” Eyong said. She reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to building a strong partnership with the National Assembly to improve women’s representation in governance.
The partnership aims to lobby stakeholders and constituents, highlighting the benefits of women’s inclusivity and enhancing their role in national development.
