IWD 2026: Low participation of women in politics worrisome — Nonye Soludo

2026-03-08 - 12:57

By Vincent Ujumadu The wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Nonye Soludo, has expressed concern over the low participation of women in politics, urging them to take a more active role in decision-making and leadership. In a statement issued to mark the 2026 celebration of International Women’s Day, Soludo called for a review of strategies aimed at increasing women’s participation in politics, warning that endless conversations without practical action may not produce the desired results. She stressed that everyone must be involved in the push to create an environment where women and girls can thrive. According to her, decades of discussions, studies, seminars, protests and appeals on improving the position of women in society have not yielded sufficient progress. “The time of staying on the sidelines is over. Women must now be at the centre and forefront of these efforts,” she said. Soludo noted that the number of women participating in politics remains significantly low and urged women to overcome their reservations about the political system and actively engage in governance. She encouraged women with political aspirations to take bold steps toward becoming change-makers, assuring them of collective support. The governor’s wife also commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for proposing legislation that would mandate a specific number of seats for women in the National Assembly. According to her, such a policy would provide an opportunity for elected women to represent and amplify the voices of millions of other women seeking greater inclusion in governance. She, however, appealed that if the proposal is adopted, similar provisions should be extended to state Houses of Assembly to ensure broader representation. Soludo observed that women have consistently demonstrated strong leadership and management skills when entrusted with responsibility. She cited the example of Anambra State, where more women currently occupy key government positions than ever before, adding that many of them have distinguished themselves through professionalism and excellence. She further emphasised that being a woman goes beyond gender identity, describing it as a call to contribute intelligence, energy and dedication to societal development. Soludo added that her non-governmental initiative, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, is working to empower women to become practical change-makers by promoting healthy lifestyles and community engagement. According to her, the initiative has produced hundreds of women leading community workouts and programmes across the state, helping to build stronger and healthier communities. She noted that the empowerment of 25 women under the programme was part of efforts to encourage them to seize opportunities and build sustainable livelihoods. Soludo stressed that meaningful progress for women requires moving beyond advocacy to concrete actions that create equal opportunities and protect women and girls from discrimination, harassment and social injustice. “When one woman is rightly empowered, a generation is empowered,” she added, urging stakeholders to turn advocacy into practical steps that advance gender equality and inclusive development.