“When women stand together, they change history. When they are divided, others write history for them,” says Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Former Deputy President of South Africa and past Executive Director of UN Women
By Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman
Former Deputy President of South Africa and past Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, has called on Nigerian women to rise above political, ethnic, and religious divides and unite to turn promises into power.
She made the call at the 9th Voice of Women (VOW) Conference and Awards 2025 held in Abuja, themed “Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action.”
The event, convened by Women Radio 91.7, brought together government officials, legislators, development partners, traditional rulers, and grassroots women from across Nigeria to discuss political inclusion, gender equality, and empowerment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mlambo-Ngcuka, who led UN Women between 2013 and 2021, said progress for women globally has always been achieved through solidarity and sustained advocacy.
‘Women Must Not Be Divided’
She urged Nigerian women to support one another across political and generational lines, stressing that unity strengthens their collective influence and calling on them to move beyond dialogue to measurable action, ensuring that inclusion becomes a tangible result rather than a recurring conversation.
“The hard truth is this, women cannot afford to be divided along political, ethnic, or religious lines. Unity, not division, is what will turn promises into power,” she said.
She cited South Africa and Rwanda as examples where women, working together across party lines, secured gender quotas and implemented progressive reforms.
“Those gains did not come because women waited to be given space. They came because women decided to back one another,” she added.
Call for Government Commitment
Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, Convener of the conference and CEO of Women Radio 91.7, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate political will by supporting the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, currently before the National Assembly.
“Mr. President, your leadership is needed to turn promises into policy and back words with action,” she said.
She added that if passed, the bill would mark a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward inclusive governance and gender balance in political representation.
Tinubu, Shettima Reaffirm Support for Inclusion
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to gender equity under the Renewed Hope Agenda, saying women remain central to Nigeria’s development goals.
“No story of Nigeria’s progress is complete without women,” the President said. “We are building a nation where women are equal partners in every sphere of governance, innovation, and leadership.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a goodwill message, described women as the “foundation of Nigeria’s resilience” and urged continued unity in the pursuit of national transformation.
“Every community that ignores its women ignores its future,” he added.
Women Leaders Demand Unity and Urgency
Speaking at the event, the co-founder of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, said Nigeria is in danger of losing hard-won progress if leaders fail to act.
She described the Reserved Seats Bill before the National Assembly as an urgent national priority.
“That bill is an absolute necessity. Without it, Nigeria will remain stuck at 3.5 per cent women’s representation, which is embarrassing compared to other African countries,” she said.
“We, however, seem to be at a point now where if care is not taken, instead of taking 10 steps forward, we’ll be taking 10 steps back.”
She added that political will from the highest levels of government must be intentional. “It is one thing to say we want a better world. It is one thing to be intentional. But if there is no political will from the President, the Vice President, and the leadership of the National Assembly, then all our aspirations will remain only on paper,” she said.
Mrs Adeleye-Fayemi urged both federal and state governments to strengthen gender-responsive budgeting and enforce existing gender laws to ensure sustainable progress.
Lawmakers Back Reserved Seats Bill
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Kafilat Ogbara (Kosofe Federal Constituency), reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing women’s underrepresentation through legislative reforms.
He said lawmakers were building consensus to ensure the passage of the Reserved Seats Bill, which proposes 37 additional seats for women in the National Assembly as a corrective measure to bridge the gender gap in political offices.
“The time is now,” the Speaker said, adding that the bill would mark a major step toward reversing decades of exclusion.
Also, Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that women currently occupy less than six per cent of National Assembly seats — far below the global average of 26.5 per cent. She described the bill as “an act of justice and strategic necessity” that would strengthen democracy and align Nigeria with international standards on women’s political participation.
Recognising Champions of Gender Equality
The conference also featured the VOW Awards, recognising individuals and organisations making significant contributions to women’s rights and empowerment in Nigeria.
Highlights included Dame Esther Udiehi, who received the VOW Woman of the Year Award for her leadership and advocacy; the late Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, honoured posthumously for her enduring legacy in gender equality; Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) for their work supporting women and families; Flour Mills of Nigeria for family-focused initiatives; Guinness Nigeria Plc for advancing gender balance in the workplace; Kaduna Public Procurement Agency for championing gender-responsive governance; Meyiwa Vera for social media innovation that amplifies women’s voices; and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his commitment to women’s empowerment.
Mlambo-Ngcuka’s message resonated with the conference theme, urging Nigerian women to transform political commitments into measurable progress in leadership, safety, and economic participation.
Her presence alongside policymakers, civil society leaders, and development partners underscored the importance of unity, collaboration, and global solidarity in advancing women’s rights and political inclusion.
