Maimunat Adaji

“In 1950, privileges were extended to women in the southern region. Three women were appointed into the House of Chiefs for the western and eastern region.”

“Nigerian women make up at least 50 per cent of the voting population but are under represented in political and appointed positions.”

“The country’s 109-seat Senate has had less than 10 women since the beginning of the fourth Republic to date. The number of women in the 360-member House of Representatives is equally not pleasing.”

“The First Republic gave birth to powerful female political figures such as Mrs Wuraola Esan who became the first female member of parliament, Chief Mrs Margaret Ekpo contested and won the election, becoming a member of the eastern Nigeria House of Assembly.”

“Statistics show that the overall female representation in Nigerian politics is at 7 per cent, a figure that is far below the Beijing Accord’s 30 per cent and National Gender Policy’s 35 per cent.”

“Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, women have been, and are still, poorly represented in the federal parliament.”