Comrade AbdulSallam Abdulqadri Olusegun, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Oyo State Chapter, delivered an impactful lecture last week at a seminar organized by the Hope for Family Development Initiative (HFDI) focused on advancing women’s participation in politics in Nigeria.
The session, titled Introduction to Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria, aimed to highlight and encourage greater involvement of women in Nigeria’s political sphere.
Comrade Abdulqadri began his presentation by gauging the audience’s current political engagement, asking attendees if they were affiliated with political parties. With only two women responding affirmatively, he stressed the need for increased representation, stating, “This is part of the challenge we’re here to address.” He highlighted the critical importance of orienting more women toward active political roles.
The NYCN Oyo State Chairman pointed to the substantial role women play in Nigeria, constituting nearly half of the population. Although the government has established a 35% reservation for women in public offices, the current level of female representation falls significantly below this goal. Comrade Abdulqadri emphasized that more women must step forward to occupy these roles to fulfill this benchmark.
He also spoke on the social and political influences that affect women’s access to political roles. Using the example of the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, he illustrated how supportive environments enable women to ascend in politics. Comrade Abdulqadri further called on religious leaders and community influencers to actively encourage women to pursue political careers, drawing on historical role models such as Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti and Efunsetan Aniwura and a couple of modern political women leaders of today.
Highlighting the current statistics, he noted that Nigeria ranks 154th out of 192 countries in terms of women’s political representation, with only four women in the House of Assembly and minimal female representation in the Senate. “This ranking calls for a shift in mindset,” he declared, urging his audience to support women seeking political influence.
Comrade Abdulqadri also highlighted the positive impact that women bring to governance, explaining that women in legislative roles often excel in responding to constituent needs and promoting gender equality. He pointed to early leadership roles, such as school prefectures and civil society involvement, as important entry points for young women into politics.
He also delivered another lecture by titled The Importance of Young Girls and Women in Politics, in which he underscored the potential of young women to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s political future, advocating for their active participation and leadership.
