By Mercy Aikoye
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has thrown her weight behind a historic bill that reserves seats for women in parliament. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, aims to increase women’s representation in governance.
Speaking at the Art for Governance Exhibition in Abuja, Senator Tinubu emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in shaping the country’s future. She urged members of the national assembly to expeditiously pass the bill into law, stressing that women constitute a vital part of the nation’s progress yet their representation in governance remains limited.
The exhibition, organized by the Office of the Deputy Speaker in conjunction with ElectHER, an advocacy group for women empowerment, showcased artworks that highlighted the need for greater female representation in leadership and decision-making processes.
Deputy Speaker Kalu also spoke at the event, decrying the systemic underrepresentation of women in governance. He emphasized that the Art for Governance exhibition is not just a cultural moment, but an advocacy tool, a visual argument, and a movement in motion.
Kalu explained that the exhibition is anchored on the Constitution (Alteration) Bill, 2024, also known as the Additional Seats Bill. This bill seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in governance, which Kalu described as a critical challenge to achieving inclusive democracy and sustainable development.
Ibijoke Faborode, CEO of ElectHER, highlighted the importance of gender-inclusive governance in fostering stronger democratic institutions, improved policy outcomes, and broader socio-economic growth. She noted that Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female political representation on the continent.
The Minister of Women Affairs and other notable personalities who spoke at the exhibition expressed their commitment to ensuring the passage of the Special Seats Bill. The bill aims to increase women’s representation in governance, with a target of at least 35% of seats in the legislative and executive arms being occupied by women.
The exhibition also featured a competition for artists, with three winners emerging from over 150 entries. The winners, Segun Owolabi, Chidinma Mordi, and Precious Samuel, received cash prizes that were later doubled by the Deputy Speaker.
The prize winners will also exhibit their work at the Echoes of Equity; Art For Governance event and display their works at the National Assembly Library for about three weeks. The exhibition is part of efforts to promote gender inclusion and increase women’s representation in governance in Nigeria.
