MAZI EJIMOFOR OPARA
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday convened a landmark National Women’s Summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, with the theme: “Advancing Women Inclusion in Politics and Governance”.
The summit brought together women leaders, political stakeholders, civil society actors, and gender advocates from across the country for a robust, nonpartisan conversation on increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s political and governance spaces.
The APGA National Leader and Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuka Soludo CFR, was represented by the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Ibezim stated, “Attempting to exclude women from politics and governance is akin to trying to clap with just one hand. For our democracy and development to be complete, women must be at the center of decision-making”.
Declaring the summit open, APGA National Chairman, Chief Sly Ezeokenwa, said the party’s decision to host the dialogue was driven by the conviction that national development cannot be achieved when more than half of the population remains underrepresented.
“This summit is not about APGA alone. It is about Nigeria. When women are excluded from the table, policies become incomplete. Advancing women inclusion is not a favor to women, it is an investment in better governance for all Nigerians,” he said.
Key Highlights
Barriers to Women’s Political Participation;
Speakers identified financial constraints, cultural norms, violence against women in politics, and party nomination bottlenecks as major hurdles.
Policy and Legislative Imperatives; Calls were made for political parties to adopt internal affirmative action, for passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill, and for full implementation of the 35% Affirmative Action policy.
Women in Governance; Women leaders shared experiences and stressed the need for mentorship, capacity building, and financing to support the next generation of women leaders.
A Nonpartisan Commitment;
Though hosted by APGA, the summit was a nonpartisan platform with representatives from other parties, women’s groups, and development partners in attendance.
The APGA National Woman Leader, Barr. Lizzy Nwokeocha said:
“The plight of Nigerian women in politics cuts across party lines. Today we put partisan interests aside to confront a national challenge. Our daughters deserve a political system that welcomes them.”
Participants resolved to:
1. Advocate constitutional and electoral reforms for greater women’s representation.
2. Urge political parties to implement voluntary quotas and support women aspirants.
3. Establish a national mentorship network for women in politics.
4. Push for better data collection on women’s participation at all levels
APGA reaffirmed its commitment to deepen internal mechanisms that promote women’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
