Against the backdrop of poor representation of women in elective positions in the state, Baobab for Women’s Human Rights will tomorrow, Tuesday in Lagos host a one-day strategic meeting to dsicuss how to enhance women’s inclusion in politics at all levels in Lagos State.
The meeting, to be held in collaboration with International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) will be attended by government functionaries, politicians, civil society activists and the media.
The meeting will, among others, identify and discuss common challenges faced by women in Lagos State politics and share strategics and best practices; develop a collective action plan for engaging with political parties to promote gender inclusive policies in Lagos state, and build partnership and collaborations among female politicians.
Participants will also agree on a collective action plan to advocate and engage with political parties to promote gender-inclusive policies in Lagos state.
Executive Director of BAOBAB, Yeye Bunmi Dipo-Salami, explained that although Lagos State has been a pacesetter for providing equal opportunities for women in leadership and in appointive positions, this is not the case when it comes to political and elective positions.
“Women do play a crucial role in campaigning and mobilizing support within political spaces, however this does not result in successfully getting elected to political positions,” Dipo-Salami said. “At the 10th Assembly in Lagos State, out of the 40 seats available, women only occupy four seats.”
She noted that though women constitute 49.4% of Nigeria’s population, there is low representation of women in leadership and limited participation in decision-making spaces.
“With most patriarchal cultures, gender inequality permeates the entire country with the perpetration and perpetuation of injustices against women and girls who face a lot of obstacles in their everyday lives due to structural inequalities,” she said.
In March 2022, just a few days before the International Women’s Day, 95.9% of male lawmakers in Nigeria at the National Assembly voted against ALL the bills aimed at ensuring gender justice through the advancement of the rights of Nigerian women as full citizens.
The gender bills proposed in the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution which sought to enhance the lives of women and provide opportunities for them to participate fully in the political and governance space as well as inclusive citizenship rights include: Special Seats for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; Expansion of the scope of Citizenship by Registration (grant citizenship to the foreign-born husband of a Nigerian woman); Affirmative action for Women in Political Party Administration (grant women 35% affirmative action in party administration and leadership) and; Reserved Quota for Women (grant 35% appointed positions to women).
“The rejection of these bills,” Dipo-Salami said, “continues to broaden the long-standing gap of inequality for women in politics and leadership which continues to adversely affect the development and prosperity of the country.”
About the organisers:
Baobab for Women’s Human Rights (BAOBAB)
BAOBAB was established as an intervention strategy to address the myriads of barriers to the actualization of the rights of women in all its forms under the three parallel systems of law in Nigeria, namely customary, religious, and statutory laws, particularly in Muslim-majority communities. Baobab’s objectives include to promote knowledge of the human rights of women and girls; strengthen the capacity of women and girls to access their human rights; protect and defend the rights of women and girls; and ensure policies promote and protect the rights of women and girls for gender equality. BAOBAB is a member of SOAWR and currently represents the Anglophone West Africa cluster on the Steering Committee.
International Foundations for Electoral Systems (IFES)
IFES advances democracy for a better future. We collaborate with civil society, public institutions, and the private sector to build resilient democracies that deliver for everyone. As a global leader in the promotion and protection of democracy, our technical assistance and applied research develop trusted electoral bodies capable of conducting credible elections; effective and accountable governing stakeholders; civic and political processes in which all people can safely and equally participate; and innovative ways in which technology and data can positively serve elections and democracy. Since 1987, IFES has worked in more than 145 countries, from developing to mature democracies. IFES is a global, nonpartisan organization based in Arlington, Virginia, USA, and registered as a nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)] under the United States tax code.
