Why Nigerians need to vote for women in 2023

BY ABOSEDE LEWU

Nigeria desperately needs more women in government. The country and its political institutions cannot grow when half the population is being left behind.  What’s more? New leadership and the fresh approach to leadership that women would bring could be the best hope of improving citizens’ quality of life, combatting the entrenched corruption that so many link to the country’s leadership today.

For Nigerian women, democracy is moving backward, the dwindling number of women in politics in Nigeria is alarming.  Since Nigeria re-established democracy in 1999, the ninth national assembly in Nigeria showed a decline in female representation in political offices to the point where today it ranks among the bottom 10% of countries in the world. Its female representation in parliament is about 6% nationwide. The country has seven female senators, 11 house of representative members, three deputy governors, and seven women appointed as ministers.  In comparison to the 24.5% global average representation of women in national governments.

As we commemorate international women’s day on the 8th of March tagged ‘Break the  Bias’, it is critical to reflect on why Nigeria has failed to even approach the country’s advocated goal of 35% representation of women,  rather on the first day of the international women’s month, the parliament voted against  35% appointment and affirmative action in party administration and leadership amongst other gender equality issues.

The blockade of advancement of women in politics can be traced to the colonial period that disenfranchised women followed by a turbulent military era and the patriarchy in the society. This is further compounded by biases towards women in leadership roles, the high cost of procuring party forms, campaigns, and the reluctance of the politicians to change the status quo.

The National elections in 2023 should provide a golden opportunity to elect new leaders.

Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of competent female leaders to draw from.  Historically,  Nigerian women have proven that they are effective leaders in various capacities, from the likes of Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti who fought for the rights of women to vote and became the first woman to be appointed to the Western house to Dora Akunyili, the former director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control of Nigeria who worked tirelessly against counterfeit drugs in Nigeria.

In recent decades, the contributions of Nigerian women have been stronger in the corporate world, sports, and entrepreneurship. In the corporate world, women represent 23.4 percent of board seats available in the top 20 companies in Nigeria. Women have excelled in sports with the likes of  Ese Brume winning numerous medals in long jump in both African and global competitions and Chioma Ajunwa, the first Nigerian to win a gold medal at the  Olympics. According to Global entrepreneurship monitor, 2021, Nigeria has the highest number of female entrepreneurs per capita in the world. The saying that “necessity is the mother of invention” has driven much of this performance.

Exemplary entrepreneurs include Stella Okoli, founder and CEO of Emzor pharmaceuticals, who provides medications at an affordable rate and  Bilikiss Adebiyi, founder of WeCycler who created a successful business around waste management. Now is the time for women to make same strides in politics.

These are just a few examples; most people already benefit from women’s leadership, they trust their mothers, sisters, daughters, aunties, wives implicitly and entrust them with critical and important issues. As Nigeria continues to battle with insecurity, economic despair, social safety deficiencies, divide across multiple lines ranging from religion, ethnicity to resources, Nigeria has never been in more dire need of female inclusion in leadership and stirring Nigeria in the direction of peace, unity, and growth.

This is not just an emotional argument about numbers, it is backed by evidence. Women at national and subnational levels all over the world mounted more effective COVID-19 responses in contrast to several male leaders who had hypermasculine bravado and slapdash decision-making ranging from disbelief to dismissal of the pandemic.

Women leaders prioritized and attended to the needs of marginalized groups demonstrating resilience, resolve, and resourcefulness. Studies have also shown that due to differences in lived experience and/or pathways to political power, women legislators or executive officials are more likely to prioritize education, health, social assistance, and the needs of marginalized groups more than their male counterparts. Simply put, getting more women into political offices doesn’t only benefit women, it benefits everyone and the country.

 What can be done to get more women into political offices?

Put pressure on various representatives to legislate the 35% affirmative action immediately (for elected and appointment offices).  Donate to political parties supporting women candidates,  make sure those eligible register, have a personal voter’s card (PVC), and are ready to vote.

The citizens of Nigeria can make the 35% aspiration of women representation in politics happen, and even go beyond that. But only if everyone casts their votes and support qualified female candidates.

Break the Bias,  be ready to vote for the female candidates in your vicinity and provide the much-needed support to ensure fair representation for all.

Abosede Lewu is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, a development practitioner,  a graduate candidate at Harvard Kennedy School of Governance interested in nation-building and good governance with a focus on policies affecting the health and wealth of girls, women, youths, and underserved communities. She tweets @NaijaObgyn.