IWD 2026: Nigeria can’t thrive while women remain underrepresented — NAS

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA —AS Nigeria joins the international community to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has joined the global community in celebrating women and calling for greater inclusion of women in political leadership and governance.

NAS in a statement issued on Sunday by its Cap’n, Dr Joseph Oteri, said the day provides an opportunity to recognise the resilience, achievements, and invaluable contributions of women to societal development, while also reflecting on the persistent challenges that continue to limit their full participation in leadership.

The theme of the 2026 IWD reads: “Rights, Justice, Action for all Women and Girls.”

Oteri noted that although women remain central to family stability, community development, and national progress, their representation in Nigeria’s political leadership remains alarmingly low.

According to him: “International Women’s Day is not only a celebration of women’s achievements but also a reminder that the journey toward gender equality is far from complete.

“Nigerian women contribute immensely to our nation’s development, yet their representation in political leadership remains disproportionately low,” he said.

He contended that statistics from Nigeria’s current political landscape reveal the depth of the challenge.

Oteri further said: “Following the 2023 general elections, women occupy only three out of 109 seats in the Senate and seventeen out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives, amounting to roughly 4.2 per cent representation in the National Assembly.

“These figures place Nigeria among countries with the lowest female representation in parliament globally, despite women constituting nearly half of the country’s population and actively participating in civic and democratic processes.”

He observed that globally, the average level of women’s representation in national parliaments exceeds 26 per cent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), with several African countries making notable progress in promoting gender-inclusive governance.

The NAS Cap’n attributed Nigeria’s poor performance in this regard to a combination of structural and cultural barriers that continue to discourage women from seeking public office.

“High nomination fees imposed by political parties, entrenched gender biases in the political space, electoral violence, and weak institutional support remain major obstacles limiting women’s entry into political leadership,” he said.

Oteri cited Rwanda as a notable African example in which deliberate reforms and political commitment have significantly improved women’s representation in governance, with women currently occupying more than 60 per cent of seats in the country’s national legislature.

According to him, inclusive governance strengthens democratic institutions and results in more balanced policy outcomes.

“Societies that promote women’s participation in leadership benefit from broader perspectives in decision-making, stronger democratic legitimacy, and improved social policies that reflect the needs of all citizens,” he added.

He therefore urged Nigerian political parties to reform internal processes that discourage female aspirants, particularly excessive nomination fees and opaque candidate selection processes.

He also called on lawmakers to revisit policy proposals that encourage affirmative action and provide institutional support mechanisms for women seeking elective office.

“Democracy cannot reach its full potential when half of the population remains largely excluded from spaces where critical national decisions are made. Nigerian women must not remain only voters in the democratic process; they must be fully represented as leaders, lawmakers, and architects of national policy,” Oteri stressed.

The association further urged electoral institutions and security agencies to ensure that the political environment remains safe and accessible for women who often face intimidation and violence during electoral cycles.

Oteri emphasised that empowering women to participate fully in political leadership is not merely an issue of fairness but a democratic necessity for Nigeria’s development.

“As Nigeria navigates complex social and economic challenges, empowering women to participate fully in governance is essential for building a stronger, more inclusive nation,” he said.

The organisation therefore called on government institutions, political parties, civil society organisations, and citizens to work collectively toward creating a political system that reflects the strength, talent, and aspirations of all Nigerians.

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