Special seat bill: NILOWV, stakeholders unite to boost women’s representation

Olumide Michael

League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV), in collaboration with UN Women and other stakeholders, is building a coalition to promote women’s representation in politics.

The effort comes ahead of the public hearing on the Special Seats Bill for Women in Parliament scheduled for July 2025.

NILOWV is a national organization of women voters in Nigeria that has existed for 28 years.

With presence across the 774 local government areas, as well as at the state and national levels, the organization is dedicated to advocating for women’s leadership, supporting policy reforms, and mobilizing women to register and vote. It also defends the rights of women in workplaces and across all sectors of society.

Speaking at a town hall meeting held in Lagos State themed “Lagos State Town Hall on reserved seats for women in the legislature and constitutional reform,” organised by NILOWV, Lawyers Alert, Race Africa and Inclusive Skills Development Initiative, NILOWV President Hon. Irene Awunah-Ikyegh noted the organization’s legacy.

She explained that the organization was founded by Rt. Hon. Dame Esther Oduehi following the Beijing Conference and has remained an independent advocacy group run by women who believe in the empowerment of other women.

“Patriarchy has been a major obstacle in Nigeria. It’s an institution upheld not only by men but also, unfortunately, often by women themselves. Our society frequently undermines a woman’s capacity to lead,” she said.

Hon. Awunah-Ikyegh further explained the need to create platforms where women can be visible, heard, and supported in showcasing their leadership potential.

“We rally behind every woman who expresses interest in public office. With women constituting over 48% of the voting population — and arguably over 50% of the entire population — it is critical that legislative action backs their inclusion.”

She noted that Nigeria ranks poorly on women’s inclusion in governance across Africa. “Nigeria isn’t even in the top 100, and many of the countries ranked higher haven’t held elections in a decade or are in conflict. This is why when Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu reintroduced the Special Seats Bill at the 10th National Assembly — a bill first presented during the 9th Assembly — NILOWV decided to mobilize citizens and build broad support.”

“Our goal is to educate voters, because often women don’t appear on the ballot due to internal party politics, not because voters reject them. We want to prove that Nigerians support women in politics and call on political parties, legislators, and national leaders to seize this opportunity to change Nigeria’s global image on inclusion,” she stated.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Adeola Ekine, Chairperson of NAWOJ, Lagos State Chapter, underscored the role of women journalists in advocating for leadership representation:

“As female Journalists, we understand the importance of women telling their own stories, stories that men cannot fully grasp. For example, only women understand the realities of menstruation and why access to education and sanitary products is vital. That’s why women must be represented at every level of decision-making.

She expressed confidence that this event would raise more awareness of NILOWV’s work and galvanize greater public support.

“In Lagos State, we already see an increase in women contesting for leadership positions in the upcoming local government elections. If we unite to support them, policies that benefit women and communities at large will follow,” she added.

As a key outcome of the town hall, NILOWV and its partners — including Lawyers Alert, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) ISDI, and others — aim to secure one million signatures from Lagos residents to endorse the bill. They are also seeking commitments from traditional, religious, and political leaders to engage legislators and advocate for the bill’s passage.

“This is not just a women’s bill,” Hon. Awunah-Ikyegh concluded. “It is a national bill — one that seeks to restore Nigeria’s democratic integrity and fulfill her potential as a true giant of Africa in governance and inclusion.”