Why Women Have Limited Political Advancement In Nigeria – Stakeholders

Stakeholders have examined the structural and socio-cultural challenges limiting women’s political advancement in Nigeria.

The engagement formed part of a radio programme organised by the Vito Corsica Deck of National Association of Seadogs, (NAS) to examine the persistent barriers confronting women in politics and the pathways toward achieving gender balance in leadership.

During the programme, the speakers agreed that prevailing political realities make the emergence of a female president in Nigeria unlikely in the immediate future,

The discussion featured the member representing Oshimili South State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA), Hon. Bridget Anyafulu and the head of the Public and Private Law Department at the Admiralty University of Nigeria, Egondu Ikeatu, who served as guest speakers.

The Vito Corsica Deck (Asaba and environs) of the NAS PyrateYTs Confraternity intensified conversations on the place of women in Nigeria’s political landscape, emphasising the urgent need to promote inclusive governance and deepen democratic participation across all levels of leadership.

They stressed that this should not discourage ongoing efforts to build stronger support systems capable of enhancing women’s participation in governance.

Anyafulu noted that political leadership across the world still reflects entrenched gender biases, even in advanced democracies that are often regarded as models for governance, saying the outcome of previous presidential elections in the United States illustrates that gender barriers remain a global challenge.

“Even America is not ready for a woman president; otherwise, Hillary Clinton would have won, and Kamala Harris would have emerged victorious as well,” she said.

“Because we often look to the West as the most advanced societies, we sometimes forget that Africans are also progressive and capable of shaping their own political realities,” she added.

The lawmaker also pointed out that Africa has produced several notable female leaders who have successfully governed their countries, demonstrating that women possess the capacity to lead effectively when given the opportunity.

While acknowledging the progress recorded over the years, she maintained that women’s participation in politics in Nigeria remains relatively low due to deeply rooted patriarchal traditions and structural barriers that limit their access to political resources and decision-making platforms.

Responding from a legal and governance perspective, Dr. Ikeatu urged women to move beyond long-standing advocacy rhetoric and channel their efforts into deliberate and strategic political engagement.

She emphasised that the struggle for gender equity in governance should not be perceived as a women-only campaign but rather as a collective responsibility that requires the support of both men and women in society.

Ikeatu also cautioned against the notion of granting leadership opportunities to women out of sympathy or tokenism, stressing that positions of authority must be earned on the basis of competence, preparedness, and leadership capacity.

According to her, empowering capable women in leadership positions strengthens democratic institutions and contributes to better governance outcomes.

“Women should not be given power out of pity. They should be supported because they are competent and capable. Men should not feel threatened when women contribute meaningfully to political leadership and national development,” she added.

She further argued that when women are sometimes appointed or elected into leadership positions, there are often underlying expectations that they may struggle to succeed.