AfriPulse
The push for greater women’s representation in Nigerian politics is set to gain momentum as Emerge Women Development Initiative hosts a special edition of its flagship dialogue series, SheThePeople, on Thursday.
Themed “Deepening the Conversation, Accelerating Women’s Representation in Governance,” the event will spotlight the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349 & SB 440) and other gender-focused legislative reforms currently before the National Assembly. The dialogue will take place at the ECWD Centre, Garki II, Abuja.
Founded by gender advocate Mary Ikoku, the SheThePeople platform serves as a hub for high-level conversations on women’s political participation and empowerment.
The forthcoming edition will bring together top policymakers, civil society leaders, grassroots women, media professionals, and development partners to explore strategies for legislative passage, advocacy, and building public support.
Speaking ahead of the dialogue, Ikoku stressed that the proposed reserved seats are an urgent corrective measure.
“Reserved seats are not a favor—they are a structural correction for decades of exclusion. We must build the momentum to make this reform a reality,” she said.
The event, organized in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Centre for Women Development (ECWD), will feature a keynote address, panel sessions with gender and policy experts, as well as interactive dialogue with participants.
In solidarity with the initiative, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), underscored the need for action.
“We’ve talked long enough—now is the time for institutional action. These bills represent a turning point for women’s rights in Nigeria,” she stated in a statement made available to THE WHISTLER on Wednesday.
Among the dignitaries expected are the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Constitution Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, the Director-General of the Women Development Centre, Dr. Vilita Asabe, policy expert Dr. Otive Igbuzor, as well as the Deputy National Woman Leader of the APC. Members of the diplomatic community, civil society groups, and other stakeholders will also participate.
Organizers note that the high-profile attendance reflects the significance of the dialogue in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.
“The credibility of any democracy rests on inclusion,” Ikoku added. “This is about ensuring women have a seat at the table where decisions are made.”
Source: TheWhistler | Read the Full Story…
