On Monday, 13 April 2026, key stakeholders, civil society, political parties, the legal community, and development partners convened at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, for the Strategy Advocacy Meeting on Advancing Women’s Leadership: Strengthening Pathways to Inclusive Representation in 2027.
The meeting served as a strategic platform to galvanize support for increased women’s political participation in Nigeria, with a strong focus on the Special Seats Bill currently before the 10th National Assembly as part of the ongoing Constitution Review process.
The event was convened by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), with support from the European Union under the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Programme.
Clement Nwankwo – Executive Director, PLAC
Delivering the welcome address, Clement Nwankwo highlighted the urgent need to address the low representation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions. He described the current figures in both the National and State Assemblies as deeply concerning and emphasized that the Special Seats Bill is a critical legislative opportunity to advance inclusive governance.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PLAC
Dr. Uju Agomoh – Chair, NBA-SPIDEL
Dr. Uju Agomoh emphasized the importance of confronting structural and cultural barriers that hinder women’s participation in politics. She noted that the law must serve as a tool for advancing women’s leadership and reaffirmed NBA-SPIDEL’s commitment to developing a strategic framework for meaningful representation.
Brenda Anugwom – CEO, Nigerian Women Trust Fund
In her remarks, Brenda Anugwom highlighted the stark disparity between women’s success in various professional fields and their limited presence in political decision-making spaces. She called for a shift from intention to implementation, urging stronger collaboration to ensure tangible outcomes.
Goodwill Messages
Mazi Afam Osigwe – Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association
Mazi Afam Osigwe stressed that women have consistently demonstrated their leadership capacity and should not be sidelined in governance. He noted that several NBA sections are successfully led by women, underscoring the need to translate inclusiveness from principle into practice.
Mrs. Edesili Anani Okpebholo – First Lady of Edo State
Mrs. Edesili Anani Okpebholo described it as unfair that women are often limited to roles as voters and supporters rather than decision-makers. She emphasized that the Special Seats Bill represents a transformative pathway toward equitable representation.
Hon. Caroline Panglang Dafur – Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs
Speaking on behalf of the College of Commissioners of Women Affairs in Nigeria, Hon. Caroline Panglang Dafur described the gathering as a testament to collective strategic efforts to increase women’s representation and urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the bill.
Laolu Olawunmi – Programme Manager, Democracy and Rule of Law, European Union in Nigeria
Laolu Olawunmi highlighted that discussions on women’s political participation often focus on women themselves rather than the systemic barriers limiting their choices. She reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to gender equality through the Third Gender Action Plan and electoral support programmes.
Hon. Kafilat Ogbara – Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs
Hon. Kafilat Ogbara delivered a presentation titled “The Special Seats Bill: Progress, Priorities and Next Steps.” She emphasized that the bill is not merely about increasing the number of seats but about building a democracy that reflects all members of society. She also called for urgent political party reforms to reduce barriers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbwefi – Member, House of Representatives
Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbwefi, representing the Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituency, led a session on political risk and vote mapping for the Special Seats Bill. The discussion focused on identifying supportive, resistant, and undecided blocs within the National Assembly, as well as strategies to sustain legislative momentum.
Panel Session: Positioning Women for Electoral Success in 2027
A high-level panel session titled “Positioning Women for Electoral Success in 2027” was moderated by Mrs. Chizoba Ogbeche, Vice President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), North Central.
Panelists included:
- Dr. Mary Alile Idele – National Women Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC)
- Dipo Olayoku – National Treasurer, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC)
- Rt. Hon. Maria Edeko – Former Deputy Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly
- Prof. Paul Ananaba – Former Chair, NBA-SPIDEL
The session explored strategies for enhancing women’s electoral competitiveness, including political party reforms, capacity building, media engagement, and cross-party collaboration.
The event concluded with closing remarks and a vote of thanks delivered by Vaneza Gregory, Programme Manager at the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, who expressed appreciation to all participants and reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing women’s leadership in Nigeria.
The Strategy Advocacy Meeting on Advancing Women’s Leadership successfully brought together diverse stakeholders to strengthen advocacy for inclusive political representation. With the Special Seats Bill at the forefront of constitutional reform, the meeting reinforced the urgency of coordinated action, strategic partnerships, and sustained political will to ensure that women play a central role in Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
