By Sewaoluwa Akanle
Since independence Nigerian politics has not offered an equal place to women and men in political positions. If we are being honest, all sectors in Nigeria have systematically limited the participation of women. This low level of participation reflects the challenges that women still face in the country. The empowerment of women for political participation is a critical factor for the development and sustainability of democratic societies. Women’s involvement in politics leads to more representative governance, better policy outcomes, and a stronger commitment to human rights. This is evident in countries that have attained almost equal representation.
Despite significant progress made in recent decades, women remain underrepresented in political arenas worldwide. To address this disparity, here are some strategies that could be implemented:
Networking and Mentorships:
This is crucial for women’s political empowerment, as it could connect experienced leaders, both men and women, with aspiring female politicians. This will provide guidance, encouragement and the well-needed resources required for political participation. Another added advantage to this is that a mentorship program will help women navigate and understand the complexities of politics and build alliances. This is illustrated by how Margaret Ekpo (a Nigerian women’s rights activist and a politician) was able to organise a Market Women’s Association in Aba to promote women’s solidarity to fight for the economic rights of women. She was able to use this association as a mentoring tool to provide valuable guidance. Doing this, made her garner the trust of a large number of women in the township, and later turned into a political pressure group. By 1955, women in Aba had outnumbered male voters in a citywide election.
Awareness Campaigns and Advocacy:
Raising awareness about the importance of women’s political participation and women’s issues in politics is vital. Advocacy campaigns that focus on celebrating successful women leaders to inspire others to engage in politics. The media also plays a huge role in shaping perceptions of women in politics. Therefore, there should be the promotion of media literacy. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for such campaigns. Awareness campaigns and advocacy could also help tackle the gendered disinformation which is aimed at weaponising gendered narratives for political objectives. Awareness campaigns could be held to correct narratives and establish that this gendered disinformation doesn’t have a truth value and doesn’t take away their potential and who they are as a woman. At STER, our current project on “Amplifying Women in Politics” currently serves as an advocacy campaign to advocate for the Special Seat Bill. Once, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said, “There is no right way to be a woman leader”. This buttresses the fact that women are subjected to higher standards and unfair scrutiny as opposed to men. Women even in politics are expected to maintain a higher standard and act in a particular way that shows respect for their male counterparts when they don’t always receive the same treatment. However, with proper awareness and sensitisation, women can be viewed as not just women, but humans who work for the government.
Funding and Resources:
Addressing financial barriers and exploring innovative funding solutions can help foster a more inclusive and representative political outlook. It is a very important strategy because money is needed to facilitate a woman’s meaningful political participation. Financial constraints might serve as a hindrance for a potential woman from engaging in the political process. Community-supported funding initiatives, crowdfunding etc, could go a long way in promoting inclusive participation. It is also important to note that maintaining transparency in funding sources and establishing accountability mechanisms to ensure funds are used effectively. It will also be beneficial for the Nigerian system to evolve past money-centred politics to create an even field for individuals from every economic class to participate in politics.
Education:
One of the most effective strategies for empowering women politically is through education. Providing women with access to quality education equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in political processes. These programs can focus on developing essential skills for political participation, such as public speaking, campaign management and policy analysis, which can significantly enhance women’s confidence and ability to participate in politics.
Numerous success stories across the globe showcase the positive impact of female leadership and advocacy. Some of these success stories illustrate how women’s political participation can lead to transformative changes in society, promoting equality, social justice and effective governance:
Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti’s leadership:
Chief Olufunmilayo Ransome Kuti was a politician, women’s rights activist and educator. Reading about her made me understand the saying “When you empower one woman, you empower a nation”. She exemplified this with the Abeokuta Ladies Club (which is now Abeokuta Women’s Union) she established which was focused on empowering women, which later turned its focus to fighting unfair price controls and taxes on market women, demanded representation for women on the Sole Native Authority’s (SNA) executive council, and a protest movement campaigning for women’s suffrage. She was a founding member of the NCNC candidate and in 1951, she ran for the regional assembly, but was unsuccessful because of the special tax requirement on voters, as most of her voters were women which disqualified them from voting. After Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the new constitution introduced universal adult suffrage which included women, except in the Northern region of Nigeria, as they didn’t immediately implement voting rights for women. However, women’s suffrage was later granted by a military decree in 1976 in the Northern region.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s leadership:
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the first woman to be Minister of Finance and the longest-serving finance minister. She freed the country from a significant financial debt by successfully negotiating a $ 30 million debt relief. She established the Growing Girls and Women in Nigeria Programme (GWIN) and also implemented various economic reforms. She became the first African and first woman to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has been serving from March 2021 till present.. She helped to secure vaccines for low-income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. During her tenure, the transparency of government accounts and how she also strengthened institutions against corruption were highly remarkable. She is an inspiration to many women and girls around the world, showing that with hard work and determination, they can achieve greatness. Her achievement also promotes development and equality.
Rwanda’s Gender Parity in Government:
After the 1994 genocide, Rwanda implemented policies to promote women’s political participation. As a result, Rwanda has one of the highest percentages of women in parliament globally, with women holding over 60% of seats. This has led to significant advancements in gender parity and social development.
The Women’s March and Global Advocacy
The Women’s March, which began in the US in 2017, mobilised millions of women worldwide to advocate for various issues including, women’s rights, health care, and racial equality. This grassroots movement has empowered women to engage politically and has led to increased representation and policy changes.
