That women in Nigeria who have been the backbone of community building, peace processes, and national development have not been well represented in the decision making and governance of the country is no longer a tale as the evidence abound for all to see.
Women representation in the National Assembly remains low, with only 4.2% (20 members out of 469) in the 10th Assembly (2023-2027), comprising 3 of 109 Senators and 17 of 360 members of the House of Representatives which is significantly below the global and African averages and is a result of factors like political party structures and male dominance.
It is trite knowledge that when it comes to political leadership, their voices are not only underrepresented, their contributions are undervalued due to cultural constraints in a society that is primarily patrilineal and patriarchal in nature. Unfortunately for Nigeria, evidence across the world shows that societies that embrace women’s participation in leadership record greater stability, deeper inclusivity, and stronger economic growth.
In spite aligning itself to the 35% Affirmative Action, Nigeria is yet to live up to its commitment to create the enabling environment for women to sit at the table where decisions are made, to shape policies that affect their lives. The federal character principle which aims to prevent ethnic or regional dominance in government and the national gender policy which promotes equitable representation for women in political and appointive positions have over the years confined to mere rhetorics and political sloganeering.
While the constitution includes anti-discrimination clauses and the Federal Character Principle is a constitutional objective, the implementation of these policies, particularly the 35% quota for women, has faced significant challenges and remains an ongoing concern.
The task before proponents of inclusiveness and equitable representation in governance is collective. It requires policy advocacy, mentorship, financing of women’s political participation, protection from harassment and violence, and above all, the political will by those entrusted with the governance of the country to implement the 35% Affirmative Action.
Even as there is a glimmer of hope due to the renewed push for the passage of the seats reservation Bill for women by the National Assembly, the three-year initiative funded by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation in partnership with Partners West Africa-Nigeria (PWAN) is systematically dismantling the barriers that have kept Nigerian women on the periphery of political power for decades.
The project, titled “Promoting Effective Participation of Women in Governance & Combating Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria,” represents something rare in development work: a comprehensive approach that tackles both the symptoms and root causes of women’s political exclusion.
As Nigeria grapples with unprecedented security challenges, economic uncertainty, and social fragmentation, this initiative offers a compelling argument that sustainable solutions require the full participation of all citizens, including the 50% who happen to be women.
The choice of Kano as a primary focus area was both strategic and symbolic. If meaningful change in women’s political participation could take root in Nigeria’s most conservative northern state, it could flourish anywhere. The early results suggest this calculated gamble is paying dividends that extend far beyond state boundaries.
When the project teams visited the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs in June 2025, they found in Commissioner Hajiya Amina Abdullahi a passionate advocate whose enthusiasm for women’s rights reflected a broader institutional transformation. More revealing were conversations with grassroots organizations like the Women, Peace and Security Network, where project staff encountered both persistent challenges and emerging opportunities that define this struggle.
Network members spoke candidly about husbands discouraging wives from political involvement, tokenistic appointments that provide titles without power, and the troubling phenomenon of women voters failing to support female candidates despite forming the electoral majority. Yet these same conversations revealed innovative strategies perfectly aligned with the project’s objectives: leveraging UN Resolution 1325 to advance gender inclusion, engaging religious leaders through the Council of Ulama to secure faith-based endorsement for women’s political participation, and strengthening grassroots women’s organizations across all 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State.
The most striking evidence of the project’s success lies in the remarkable increase in women holding government and political positions in Kano State. History was made with the appointment of Hon. Justice Dije Abdu Aboki as the first female Chief Judge, a breakthrough that would have seemed impossible when the project began. This milestone was followed by a surge in female High Court judges and magistrates, signaling a systematic shift in judicial representation. The executive branch witnessed equally significant developments.
Perhaps most symbolically, Kano witnessed the appointment of its first female caretaker local government chairperson from Wudil LGA, a position that brings women’s leadership directly to the grassroots level.These appointments reflect a fundamental shift in how political leadership is conceptualized in Nigeria’s most conservative northern state. When women occupy positions of real authority, from the Chief Judge’s chambers to local government chairperson offices, they reshape institutional culture and create pathways for other women to follow.
The Swiss-funded project has achieved something remarkable in Nigerian development work: measurable policy impact that extends from grassroots advocacy to structural institutional change. When the Kano State Government established a Constitutional Amendment Hearing Committee under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the project team submitted a detailed memorandum calling for reserved seats to increase women’s representation in governance and successfully defended these recommendations before the panel.
This policy engagement catalyzed increased political will for GBV prevention programs, with ongoing discussions between the Foundation and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development resulting in enhanced funding for sensitization campaigns, education on women’s rights, and support services for survivors of violence. Perhaps most significantly, the project systematically addressed cultural and social barriers that traditionally prevented women from participating in peace processes through strategic engagement with the Council of Ulama, Christian Association of Nigeria, and Kano Emirate Council.
As communities across the country confront various forms of violence, from insurgency in the Northeast to banditry in the Northwest, communal conflicts in the Middle Belt, and urban crime in major cities, the exclusion of women from peace and security processes represents both injustice and strategic error. Female leaders are now actively participating in community mediation processes, and peacebuilding dialogues. Their involvement has enhanced the cultural sensitivity and effectiveness of these interventions, while collaborative structures between male allies and women’s groups have resulted in more inclusive and sustainable approaches to conflict prevention.
Rather than demanding immediate, quantifiable results, Swiss funding has enabled the kind of patient, multi-faceted engagement that addresses root causes rather than merely symptoms. This strategic patience proves particularly valuable in contexts like northern Nigeria, where rapid social change can provoke backlash and undermine long-term progress. By working through respected local institutions like the Yar’Adua Foundation and engaging traditional authorities as partners rather than obstacles, the Swiss-funded approach has achieved buy-in from stakeholders who might otherwise resist externally imposed changes.
The July 14, 2025, public policy forum, another facet of the Swiss-funded project, featured the premiere of “Double Minority – a documentary by the prolific Kadaria Ahmed.’ To kick off the Swiss-funded Public Policy Forum, and as a prelude to the screening of the documentary, Tunde Ajala, Senior Political and Economic Specialist of the Embassy of Switzerland, reeled out some facts which illustrated the inadequate inclusion of women in political leadership and governance in Nigeria. He also stressed the urgent need for Nigeria as the Giant of Africa to be the exemplar in women’s inclusion in this regard.
The documentary chronicled the political journeys of some brave Nigeria women and provided a fitting celebration and illustration of the ongoing quest to enhance women’s inclusion in governance in Nigeria. It also highlights the complex barriers they face at the intersection of gender and politics. Through their personal narratives, Double Minority revealed the systemic obstacles to women’s political and leadership aspirations and celebrates the remarkable resilience they exhibited towards surmounting the obstacles. The screening of the movie was followed by an engaging and animated interactive session in continuation of the Public Policy Forum.
As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, the work supported by Swiss funding offers hope that the next generation of leaders will better reflect the country’s full human potential. In a nation where women constitute half the population but hold less than 10% of political positions, transformation can’t come soon enough. The quiet revolution unfolding in Kano and beyond may not capture daily headlines, but it addresses one of Nigeria’s most fundamental democratic deficits. Through patient advocacy, strategic engagement, and sustained commitment, the Swiss-funded project is proving that even the most entrenched barriers to women’s political participation can be overcome.The stakes could not be higher.
The Swiss-funded project’s success in breaking down barriers to women’s political participation represents not just progress for gender equality, but advancement for democracy itself.The project offers more than hope for women’s increased political participation; it provides a roadmap for democratic renewal. By demonstrating that inclusive governance is not only possible but practical, even in challenging contexts, this initiative challenges us to imagine a Nigeria where democracy’s promise is finally fulfilled for all citizens. The revolution may be quiet, but its impact will be profound and lasting.
