By Uzoamaka Mfoniso
At a time when African countries are rewriting the rules of political inclusion, why is the “Giant of Africa”, Nigeria, still trailing global tables on women in parliament?
According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Nigeria is ranked 181st out of 193 countries worldwide for female representation. By contrast, Rwanda tops the world at 61% women in parliament, Senegal sits at 43%, South Africa at 46%, and Ethiopia at 39%.
Nigeria, with less than 4% female legislators, is not only lagging behind Africa’s pace-setters, sadly trailing much smaller and less resourced nations.
This uncomfortable truth dominated the plenary session on “Parity in Power: Advancing Women’s Leadership for National Transformation” at the 2025 Gender and Inclusion Summit in Abuja, where advocates, policymakers, and campaigners pressed for urgent reforms through the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349/SB 440).
The Bill, currently before the 10th National Assembly, proposes an additional 37 seats in the House of Representatives, 37 in the Senate, and 108 across State Houses of Assembly —for women only to contest. Far from tokenism, proponents insist this is the only credible way to correct Nigeria’s staggering record of exclusion.
“Imagine calling ourselves the Giant of Africa, yet across 993 members of state assemblies, only 51 are women,” charged Chief (Mrs.) Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche, CEO of TOS Group and Lead Advocate of the coalition behind the Bill advocacy. “This is not representative of who we claim to be.”
But if Nigerians are demanding answers, lawmakers also need persuasion. Dr. Chidozie Aja, Special Adviser, Legislative Matters to the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, admitted that past advocacy fell short. “In the 9th Assembly, parliamentarians felt they were being boxed into a corner. The message was misunderstood, the language was forceful. This time, the advocacy is structured differently. Legislators are being appealed to, not compelled—and that is making the difference,” he explained.
Still, the biggest hurdle is ahead: securing the required two-thirds majority in both chambers. For Dr. Aja, success depends on broader citizen mobilization. “We must use influencers, traditional and religious leaders, and ordinary citizens to sustain the appeal. Support must be visible, not passive.”
Bukky Shonibare, Executive Director of Invictus Africa, argued that ignorance remains a hidden barrier. “Knowledge is power. Yet, even many advocates don’t know the details of the Bill they’re pushing for. How do we convince lawmakers if we ourselves can’t answer tough questions? Download the Bill. Read it. Know it. Only then can you effectively advocate for it.”
For Ebi Elezianya, South-South coordinator of the Reserved Seats Coalition, translating the Bill into grassroots languages has been a game changer. “At first, people thought it meant unseating sitting members. Once we explained it creates new seats only for women, acceptance grew. Communities want this. Women want this. Nigeria needs this.”
The plenary ended with a sting from the audience. Glory Ohagwu, a participant, challenged women directly: “Why are Nigerian women not reading the Bill? Why are we not learning about it? Support the woman, support the nation. Leave the woman, lose the election.”
Closing the session, Dr. Adaora O. Sydney-Jack, who moderated the discussions, left participants with a sobering reflection. “This Bill is not just about numbers. It’s about mindset. Until we dismantle the structural, religious, educational, and financial barriers that hold women back, no reform will stick. We must see women’s inclusion as a nation-building imperative, not a favour.”
The question now is simple: If Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa can blaze the trail, why can’t Nigeria?
With less than two months to the decisive vote, the Reserved Seats Bill has become a litmus test of Nigeria’s sincerity on inclusion. Because no democracy can claim legitimacy when half its population is locked out of power.
The solution is on the table. The world is watching. The question is: will Nigeria act—or explain again?
And in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s which places a premium on women’s representation and contribution to national development, the outcome of this Bill will determine whether Nigeria truly intends to “leave no woman behind”—or continue to trail while others lead.
