As Nigeria marks the 2025 Democracy Day, a former National Woman Leader of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) and Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Ireland, Amb. Dr. Kema Chikwe has bemoaned the low representation of women in the 10th National Assembly, saying that greater representation of women in political leadership is not only a democratic imperative but a developmental necessity.
Dr. Chikwe who is also the Governing Council Chairperson of the MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame(WoFHoF) Initiative, a gender-centric non-governmental organization(NGO), stated this in her democracy day message titled:”Democracy Day 2025 Message: Women Leadership Mainstreaming in Nigeria and Democracy – The Journey So Far”.
Observing the downward trend in gender inclusion in the nation’s parliament, she noted that “We still have a long way to go; but applauded the executive and judicial arms of government as well as the private sector which have shown incremental improvement in gender representation.
According to her, “It is clear that balancing the gender equation will unequivocally accelerate national development in Nigeria.”
MMS Plus reports that in the current National Assembly, female lawmakers occupy only 4 out of the 109 Senate seats, representing 2.7 percent of the total number,with16 women seats only of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives , which constitutes 4.7 per cent, summing the total female representation in the 469-member assembly to just 4.2 per cent of 100 percent.
In the 8th National Assembly(2015-2019),out of 360 House of Representatives members,22 were women; only 7 women were Senators out of 109 senate members. This was abysmally poor, too but is relatively higher than the current ratio of representation.
The 9th National Assembly had only 8 female Senators, with a ratio of 7.3percent and 13 female members of House of Representatives, representing 3.6 percent, with a summation of 21 women members in 469-member Assembly composition, making up only 4.5 percent of the total Assembly.
This low percentage reflects broader issues of women’s underrepresentation in Nigeria’s political leadership, Dr. Chikwe, the Executive Chairman of Women Leadership Institute(WLI) has noted.
She further stated:”Democracy flourishes where there is inclusion, equity, and representation. Over the years, Nigerian women have demonstrated remarkable resilience, capacity, and excellence in leadership — in politics, governance, business, civil society, and beyond. Yet, the journey is ongoing. The path toward the full mainstreaming of women in democratic leadership has been shaped by persistent challenges, undeniable progress, and relentless advocacy.
“On this momentous occasion of Democracy Day in Nigeria, we commemorate not only the founding principles of our democratic system but also reflect on the meaningful strides we have made in the inclusion and empowerment of women in leadership across all spheres of national life.
“We honour the trailblazers who broke barriers and the many women leaders who continue to inspire a rising generation. We also recognize the urgent need for deeper reforms — especially electoral reforms — stronger policies, and deliberate action to ensure that women’s voices are not only heard but structurally empowered and institutionalized within our democratic frameworks.” she added.
According to her, the Women Leadership Institute (WLI) has remained at the forefront of this advocacy — championing women’s leadership through strategic training, mentorship, policy engagement, and community mobilization. As a professional and non-partisan platform, WLI is committed to equipping women with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to thrive and lead boldly across all sectors. Our goal is clear: to grow a critical mass of women leaders who will drive transformative change in Nigeria and across Africa.
