Ongoing efforts to build stronger support systems capable of enhancing women’s participation in governance and seeing the emergence of a female president in Nigeria in future should be sustained.
This was the submission of two female speakers on a radio programme organised by Vito Corsica Deck of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Pyrates Confraternity to examine the persistent barriers confronting women in politics and the pathways towards achieving gender balance in leadership.
In her presentation, the member representing Oshimili South state constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable Bridget Anyafulu noted that political leadership across the world still reflects entrenched gender biases, even in advanced democracies that are often regarded as models for governance.
According to her, the outcome of previous presidential election in the United States illustrates that gender barriers remain a global challenge.
“Even America is not ready for a woman president; otherwise, Hillary Clinton would have won and Kamala Harris would have emerged victorious as well. Because we often look to the West as the most advanced societies, we sometimes forget that Africans are also progressive and capable of shaping their own political realities,” she said.
The lawmaker noted that Africa has produced several notable female leaders who have successfully governed their countries, demonstrating that women possess the capacity to lead effectively when given the opportunity.
While acknowledging the progress recorded over the years, she maintained that women’s participation in politics in Nigeria remains relatively low due to deeply rooted patriarchal traditions and structural barriers that limit their access to political resources and decision-making platforms.
In her contribution, the Head of Public and Private Law Department at the Admiralty University of Nigeria, Delta State, Dr Egondu Ikeatu urged women to move beyond long-standing advocacy rhetoric and channel their efforts into deliberate and strategic political engagement.
She emphasised that the struggle for gender equity in governance should not be perceived as a women-only campaign but rather as a collective responsibility that requires the support of both men and women in society.
Ikeatu also cautioned against the notion of granting leadership opportunities to women out of sympathy or tokenism, stressing that positions of authority must be earned on the basis of competence, preparedness and leadership capacity.
According to her, empowering capable women in leadership positions strengthens democratic institutions and contributes to better governance outcomes.
She further argued that when women are sometimes appointed or elected into leadership positions, there are often underlying expectations that they may struggle to succeed.