A PRESS RELEASE BY HON. AMB. FLORENCE GBINIGIE JP PHD, PRESIDENT/ FOUNDER FORUM OF NIGERIAN WOMEN IN POLITICS (FONWIP), MARKING NIGERIA DEMOCRACY DAY, 2025.

In Celebrating Nigeria’s Indomitable Democratic Spirit, FONWIP pays tribute to the Liberty and the Role of Women as we commemorate Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
We honor not only the country’s return to civilian rule for 26 years now, but also the pivotal role women have played in shaping its democratic growth.
The theme of liberty and democratic principles is especially significant when considering the contributions of Nigerian women to the nation’s political landscape.

Women’s Contributions to Nigerian Democracy, includes but not limited to;

– Pioneering Women in Politics: Women like Margaret Ekpo and Hajia Gambo Sawaba paved the way for future generations by breaking down barriers in politics and advocating for women’s rights. Margaret Ekpo mobilized women across class and ethnic lines, winning a seat in the Eastern House of Assembly, while Hajia Gambo Sawaba fearlessly demanded education and political rights for girls and women in the North.
-Today, organizations like FONWIP under the leadership of Hon. Amb. Florence Gbinigie JP PhD, have been playing various roles since 1999 in restoring and sustaining our democracy, through sensitization and networking with all stakeholders,( government, traditional institutions, political parties, similar organizations and agencies) to ensure its success. Meanwhile encouraging the women to take center stage in party leadership positions rather than shy away, to just become bench warmers, only to be used by the male politicians and be dumped after helping them achieve their leadership positions.

There are other Pro-Democracy Activists Women, such as Kudirat Abiola, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for democratic governance. Her unwavering commitment to the pro-democracy movement significantly shaped Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Today we have an increased number of women in Leadership Positions (elected and appointed), compared to how it was in previous eras before 1999.
Nigerian women have continue to excel in various leadership roles, inspiring others to follow suits in their footsteps. Women’s participation in politics and governance is crucial for achieving gender equality and fostering economic growth.

Despite the progress Nigerian women have made in sustaining democracy, they still face many challenges and lack opportunities compared to their male counterpart.
The Nigeria’s democratic process, is still an uphill task.

Women remain under-represented in leadership positions, and their contributions often go unrecognized;

-Marginalization:
Women face marginalization and exclusion from decision-making processes, hindering their ability to shape policy and drive change.
-Empowerment: There is a need for female empowerment to stimulate participation and decision-making in the democratic terrain.

For us to move forward and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy, it is essential to promote women’s inclusion and participation in the political process. This can be achieved through
-Encouraging Female Empowerment: Supporting women’s empowerment initiatives can help increase their participation in politics and decision-making roles.
-Promoting Gender Equality, Addressing the disparities in representation and opportunities can help ensure that women’s voices are heard and valued in the democratic process.
-Mentorship and Support: the front line and experienced female politicians and the ‘He for She’ in politics should organize programs and support women in politics, campaign and mentor young women, and build policy platforms, demonstrating the impact of targeted support.

By acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of women to Nigeria’s democratic growth, we can work towards a more inclusive and representative governance that truly reflects the nation’s diverse population.

I commend the ongoing proposed bill (HB 1349) before the national Assembly to reserve legislative seats for women which has passed second reading at the House of Representative in July 2024, proposing 74 seats for women in the federal legislature, ( one per state and FCT in both the Senate and house of Representative, as well as creating three special seats for women in each State House of Assembly. We don’t want any clause attached to this bill, that could give it any trace temporarily. FONWIP appeals for its quick passage into law. However,
I call the Nigerian government, particularly the legislation, to also look into amending the Nigerian Constitution to equally recognize foreign husbands as citizens based on the same status of recognizing the foreign wives. Also, we want all policy and decision making positions particularly in government, civil, military, amongst others to be based on equal gender and equity, without disparity. All forms of bottle necks that stand as barriers towards women empowerment and development should be eradicated.

Conclusively,
as we are celebrating uninterrupted democratic rule, we should as well advance to celebrate and encourage the female gender, population that have made this a reality with their voting strength and consistencies at all elections, irrespective of the insecurity that may befall that election. Yet they’re less than 10% in representation in the elected offices at all levels. Nigerian women, I say congratulations.
Thank you and God bless.