During a courtesy visit to the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the Director General, Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, has emphasized the need for increased women’s participation in politics and governance. A delegation from UN Women, led by the Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, visited the Institute to explore potential areas of partnership, enhanced capacity for a gender-sensitive Parliament, and accelerate women’s involvement in governance.

The call for increased women’s participation in politics became necessary following the gender’s poor performance in the 2023 general election in Nigeria, with only four women in the Senate and less than twenty in the House of Representatives.

Prof. Sulaiman regards the non-participation of women in politics as a national challenge and has launched a study on the participation of women in Nigerian politics. Beatrice Eyong reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s gender equality efforts and emphasized the importance of protecting women and children for the country’s well-being.