From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has lamented that the participation of women in politics does not reflect their demography and voting strength in Nigeria.
The Governor noted that ‘’women constitute nearly half of our population and an even larger share of active voters, yet they remain significantly under-represented in elective and appointive offices. ‘’
Speaking at the flag-off of the North West Zone campaign for the Reserved Seats For Women Bill on Thursday, he decried the situation in which women occupy less than 5% of legislative seats at the national level.
‘’ This disparity is not a reflection of capacity or competence; it is the result of structural, cultural, economic, and institutional barriers that have persisted for decades,’’ he argued.
The Governor said that the North West has historically recorded low female participation in elective politics. This situation is ‘’shaped by deeply rooted social norms, economic constraints, and uneven access to political networks.’’
‘’Yet these realities are not immutable. They evolve when institutions change, when leadership is intentional, and when women themselves step forward with confidence,’’ he added.
Governor Uba Sani noted that ‘’Kaduna State offers a compelling example of what is possible. We are proud to be leading Northern Nigeria in the election of women into senior political offices and appointments into strategic positions.’’
Kaduna State has a female Deputy Governor. We have an elected woman member of the State House of Assembly, who is also the Majority Leader of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, and the first female to ever hold such a position in the Northwest.
The Kaduna state Head of Service is also a woman. We equally have a female elected Local Government Chairman in Jaba Local Government Area.
‘’Additionally, women head key Ministries of Health, Business Innovation, Youth Development, Women Affairs, and a lot of other key parastatals in the state,’’ he disclosed.
He argued that the Kaduna State example demonstrates women can ‘’win elections, head strategic positions in Government, lead effectively, and command public trust when given a fair opportunity.’’
According to him, ‘’these milestones did not occur by accident. They are the outcome of deliberate choices, inclusive leadership, and the courage of women who stepped forward to contest and serve.’’
