Women Must Support Women: The Time Is Now

By Onono Onimisi

I am tired of seeing men constantly competing for power while women are often left out of the picture. I want to see women contesting against women for positions, not being continually sidelined by men. Women must support women if we are ever to reclaim the power and influence that rightfully belong to us in politics and leadership.

For too long, women in positions of power have been few. And when they rise, they often rise alone—facing hostility, scepticism, and isolation. Every time a woman is pulled down instead of lifted up, we send a message to the next generation that their dreams are fragile, temporary, or unattainable.

Supporting each other is not a favour; it is a lifeline. When one woman succeeds, it is proof that it can be done—a spark that ignites hope in countless others. Each time we choose jealousy, criticism, or silence over support, we dim that light and deny ourselves the fullness of what we can achieve together.

I have seen the consequences of leaving women isolated in leadership: progress stalls, voices are silenced, and young girls grow up believing that leadership is not meant for them. But when we lift one another, mentor each other, and celebrate every victory—big or small—we build a movement of empowerment that cannot be ignored.

Politics, governance, and leadership must no longer be arenas where women feel they are fighting for scraps. Supporting women is not an act of charity—it is a strategy. It is how we reclaim our rightful place and ensure that our voices, visions, and values shape the world around us.

Let us be loud. Let us be visible. Let us be unshakeable. When women support women, we do not merely survive in leadership—we thrive. And in that thriving, we create a future where young girls no longer wonder if there is space for them; they will know there is—because we made it.