Women In Politics: Breaking Barriers Or Still Shut Out?

Nigeria continues to lag behind in women’s political representation, with only 3.9% of seats in the House of Representatives and just 3 out of 108 Senate seats held by women. The barriers remain stubborn from cultural and religious bias to the high cost of nomination forms, unsafe political environments, patriarchal party systems, financial constraints, and the absence of strong mentorship networks.

These challenges have kept many capable women from stepping into leadership roles, while those who do often face resistance in influencing meaningful change. This raises pressing questions: Are the women in office advancing gender-related reforms, or are they being used as token figures? Are they occupying strategic leadership positions where real power is exercised?

The way forward demands deliberate action. Young women are already using digital activism and grassroots mobilization to push for inclusion, but this must be matched by institutional reforms, gender quotas, fairer party structures, and policy changes that lower entry barriers.