ECOWAS Targets Gender Parity by 2035, Nigeria Pushes Bold Reforms to Boost Women’s Political Leadership

West African leaders have launched an ambitious regional initiative to end decades of women's political exclusion, setting a 2035 deadline for gender parity in political leadership. Nigeria has pledged to enact sweeping reforms to bolster women's representation in governance.

The commitment was solidified at the Forum on Women’s Political Leadership in West Africa, held in Abuja. Political figures, parliamentarians, ministers, electoral bodies, civil society organizations, and women's groups united to dismantle legal, financial, and institutional obstacles that have marginalized women in governance.

Nigeria's Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasized that increasing women's political participation is not just a matter of fairness but a strategic imperative for national development, economic growth, and strengthening democratic institutions. She stated that the forum aimed to translate years of promises into tangible actions through the proposed Abuja Action Agenda.

This agenda seeks to accelerate the ECOWAS 2035 Gender Parity Agenda, secure sustainable financing for female political candidates, combat violence against women in politics, enhance women's involvement in democratic transitions, foster regional solidarity, and establish accountability mechanisms to track progress. Nigeria is already implementing its Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and reforming leadership academies to prepare more women for leadership roles.

Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that inclusive development remains unattainable without women's participation in decisions shaping public investment, governance, peacebuilding, and social protection. She also revealed that the controversial Special Reserved Seats Bill for women is undergoing a comprehensive review to better suit Nigeria's political landscape, with proposals like an electoral college mechanism being examined to significantly increase women's representation in elected offices.

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We are still trying to find what instrument is fit for Nigeria so that we can give our system the necessary shock it requires to admit many more women while we continue to compete on a level playing field.