Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye, has called for stronger support for the proposed constitutional amendment aimed at increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s political space.
Speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) in Abeokuta on Tuesday, Adeleye described the bill as a national imperative for inclusive governance and sustainable development.
She decried the 9th National Assembly’s rejection of women-focused bills as a setback and urged collective action to build momentum at the grassroots level.
“We must take this message beyond the elite—into markets, mosques, churches, and campuses,” she said. “No nation can flourish without women. We need to speak with one voice and bridge all divides.”
The proposed Gender Bill would create 74 new seats in the National Assembly and 108 in state Houses of Assembly exclusively for women. Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, who delivered the keynote address, described it as a “bold and necessary step” toward gender balance in politics.
NILOWV President Irene Ikyegh said the bill would enhance women’s political visibility and leadership credibility. Speakers from civil society, disability advocacy groups, and traditional institutions echoed the call for unity, literacy, and persistent advocacy to ensure the bill’s passage before the 2027 elections.
