In a passionate and politically charged assembly in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, Nigerian and African women articulated what many have quietly acknowledged for years: the political system is failing women and the era of polite patience has concluded. During the HID Awolowo Foundation’s national dialogue, titled “Breaking Barriers or Standing Still? Nigerian Women in Politics 30 Years After Beijing,” women from various sectors confronted the stark reality that despite decades of commitments, Nigeria continues to marginalize half of its population from significant political engagement.
It was a day dedicated to truth-telling. A day focused on strategy. A day filled with fervor.
With enthusiasm resonating throughout the hall established in honor of the iconic Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, one message prevailed above all: Women are finished waiting for permission. They are prepared to reclaim Nigeria’s political destiny.
Daisy Danjuma, chairperson of the HID Awolowo Foundation, spoke candidly. She reminded the audience that political exclusion is not merely unjust it is detrimental. “No nation can thrive without women in decision-making,” she emphasized, pointing out that the world’s most prosperous countries feature 50–60% female political representation. Nigeria, conversely, languishes near the bottom of the global rankings.
Her message served as both a caution and a rallying cry: “Nigerian women must awaken. Unite. Support women in politics.” In a political landscape where women are frequently advised to “wait their turn,” Danjuma contended that the turn will never arrive unless women take it.
Taking the stage with equal passion, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, encouraged women to cease acting as isolated individuals and begin to operate as a collective force. “When women move together,” she stated, “they can move mountains.” Her message subtly yet powerfully critiqued performative activism the photo-op feminism that seldom translates into votes, policies, or power.
Musawa’s advocacy was unmistakable: symbolism does not equate to unity; numbers equate to power.
However, the most striking intervention was made by Prof. Olabisi Aina, the Executive Director of Gender, Women & Children in Sustainable Development. She pointed out that women have dedicated too much time working diligently at the grassroots level while neglecting the true battleground: political will. “Engaging solely at the grassroots without altering the political framework,” she warned, “is a futile endeavor.”
In essence: women cannot continue to mend a system that is inherently designed to exclude them they must reconstruct it.
Aina further reminded the audience that Nigeria does not suffer from a deficiency of policies, but rather from a reluctance to adopt and execute them. She encouraged emerging female leaders to act with courage, prepare comprehensively, and overcome self-doubt.
What arose from the discussion was not merely frustration, but a strategic plan for resistance. A new women’s policy. A collective front. A determination to no longer be mere ornamental participants in a democracy that demands their contributions yet denies their leadership.
Three decades after Beijing, Nigerian women are no longer questioning whether the obstacles should be dismantled.
They are inquiring: who still believes they can uphold them?
