The IPC raised the advocacy on Friday as Nigeria joined other countries of the world to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
The International Press Centre (IPC) has advocated for increased female political representation and urgent inclusion of women at decision making levels at both national and subnational levels in Nigeria.
The IPC raised the advocacy on Friday as Nigeria joined other countries of the world to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
Reflecting on the United Nations theme for this year, "Invest in women—accelerate progress," IPC emphasised the importance of empowering and investing in women by promoting their active participation in political leadership and decision-making roles.
This, according to the organisation, is seen as a crucial strategy to swiftly address the democratic challenges facing the nation.
The organisation drew attention to the inadequate representation of women in political positions in Nigeria, despite constitutional provisions and international agreements advocating for their inclusion, noting that persistent systemic and societal barriers hinder women's engagement in politics.
According to IPC, “The concerning trend persisted during the 2023 elections in the country, resulting in adverse implications for women's representation and impact within the government. Notably, the proportion of women in Nigeria's National Assembly decreased by 19% compared to the previous assembly. Presently, women hold only 3% of Senate seats and 4% of seats in the House of Representatives.”
In a statement issued by its Communications Officer, Olutoyin Ayoade, the Executive Director of the IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, emphasised the importance of acknowledging the significant perspectives and contributions that women offer to governance in Nigerian society.
Arogundade stressed that empowering women in politics not only promotes fairness and equality but also enhances the overall effectiveness and legitimacy of governmental institutions.
He said that “Through concerted efforts to address these disparities, by dismantling barriers and fostering inclusivity in political arenas, Nigeria can pave the way for a more inclusive and representative democracy that truly reflects the voices and needs of all its citizens.”
The Executive Director further noted that IPC's initiatives in the realm of democracy had significantly contributed to enhancing the media's pivotal role as a primary influencer in elections.
According to him, these efforts have focused on enhancing the capabilities of both the media and female candidates nationwide, empowering them to effectively leverage the media's influence in promoting democracy.
He said that these endeavours had yielded commendable results, with some beneficiaries, particularly female lawmakers, successfully securing seats in the States House of Assembly during the 2023 Elections.
Arogundade emphasised the importance of key stakeholders advocating for gender-equitable policies, initiating voter education campaigns on gender equality, and addressing feminized poverty through economic equality initiatives as a panacea to mitigate the high attrition rates of women in elections.