Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) is one of the six major left-wing German political foundation. The foundation has in its goal to organise political education home and abroad, disseminate information, it is also dedicated to the ideals of participatory democracy, social justice, etc it was founded in 1990, and is present in West Africa since 2010. The foundation was named after Rosa-Luxemburg who was a German socialist leader, the foundation has several themes which feminism is a part of. For more information, visit the official website www.rosalux.de/en/ or https://rosalux.sn/ The Webinar was held via zoom where different West African countries were represented.
The work disclosed that Nigerian women involvement in political processes and participation is something that is of importance, because the female population in Nigeria is at a numerical advantage at 49.2 percent,[1] and if women are to fully participate in political processes and hold political position, there would be growth and development. Despite this, women roles in politics are minute and women status in political setup is marginal, women involvement and participation in political processes have a low engagement level and there is visible exclusion of women in certain political processes and governance. This is a setback, a challenge faced in the quest of women to participate in politics and political processes.
The work discussed the roles of women, women activists, and women organization in the political process in Nigeria. It was divided into segments which included the introduction; Historical survey of women in politics and governance,The Nature of Political Activities in Nigeria the place of Nigerian Women In Politics And Political Movement; The Presence And Role Of Women Group, Individual Activist And Women Organisation In Political Processes In Nigeria; Challenges faced by Nigerian women, women activist and women in politics, Panacea to the Challenges faced by Women In Regards To Politics And Gender Stereotypes, Community Way To Promote Women Participation In Politics And Tackle Gender-Based Violence(GBV) And Violence and conclusion.
With regards to women involvement in political activities history has shown that women can lead and play a role and contribute to political processes and governance. Examples from the precolonial times eg. Queen Amina of Zaria, Princess Moremi of Ife etc. In colonial time, despite the challenges eg. Mrs Fumilayo Ransome Kuti , Mrs Margeret Ekpo, Hajia Swaba. Example from Post colonial Nigeria fourth republic is the one female governor which was in Anambra state, Dame Virginia Etiaba , several deputy governors etc. Sarah Jibril was the only female presidential aspirant in the Social Democratic. Etc
TABLE OF WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN ELECTION FROM 1999 TO 2019
| 1999 | 2003 | 2007 | ||||
| Office | Seat available | Women | Seat available | women | Seat available | Women |
| President | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Senate | 109 | 3 | 109 | 4 | 109 | 7 |
| Governor | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Deputy Governor | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||
| State House of Assembly | 990 | 24 | 990 | 40 | 990 | 57 |
| Vice President | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2015 | 2019 | ||||
| Office | Seat available | women | Seat available | women | Seat available | women |
| President | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Senate | 109 | 7 | 109 | 7 | 109 | 7 |
| Governor | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 |
| Deputy Governor | 1 | 5 | 4 | |||
| State House of Assembly | 990 | 68 | 991 | 46 | 990 | 40 |
| Vice President | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
[2] Table of women representation in election from 1999 to 2019
[3] Table updated from 2015 Nigeria Election report page 37-40
The National average of women participation in Nigeria since 1999 has not reached the 30 % benchmark set up by the Beijing 1995 declaration eg. In 1999 there was 3 % in representation, 4 % in 2003, in 2007 6%, 5.6 % in 2015 and 4.1% in 2019. [4] this is evident that women’s participation is low.
In the fourth republic, women have held positions but this is not as extensive as it should be, With regards to the national assembly from 1999-2013, out of 109 senatorial positions, only 3 women were senators, leaving the remaining 106 as men. From 1999-2011 there was only 10 Deputy governor eg. Kofo Bukunor Akerele in Lagos State.[5] By 2019, it was a total of 19 female deputy governors.
The work concluded that with regards to political participation and women activist role in politics, women in Nigeria has been faced with several challenges which range from economic, political, social, cultural, religious factors, there is also the presence of gender-based violence and has remained trivialized and minute, not Withstanding the challenges, there have been women taking up roles in Nigeria politics especially since 1999. Women are active consistently but there is a need for more women’s participation in politics and for women to hold substantial positions and not the auxiliary role that streamlines them to a particular political post. The importance of this is so that women can make important decisions at the Federal and State levels that would promote development etc. There is a need for political parties to take into account the concerns of women. Women who have held different political office has demonstrated good leadership qualities, shown hard work, dedication, tolerance, thoroughness, transparency and have promoted development while in office eg. Dr Okonjo- Iwela who served as the Minister of finance and is currently the Director-General of World Trade Organization WTO, Professor Dora Akunyili head of NAFDAC, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Mrs Abigail Ukpabi , Formal minister of women affairs. Aisha Jumai Al-Hassan etc. Also, Women association has been used to optimize and operationalise political and economic empowerment of women thus enabling women to participate in leadership, governance, decision making, and political participation. [6]
WOMEN RIGHTS FROM GLOBAL SPECTRUM TO NIGERIA:MAROONSQUARE PRESENTATION ON WOMEN RIGHT&INSECURITY Pt1
[1] Oluwafunminiyi R. Adehbenle S.A. 2020. Female deputy Governors as Subaltern in Lagos Politics. In Oladeji M.T Gender, Politics and Governance in Africa: The Known and Unknown. Ibadan. Reamsworth publishing Limited p 1
[2] Ochanja C. 2013. Women in Politics and Decision Making In Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences. Vol 2. No 8
[3] 2015 Nigeria Election report page 37-40
[4] Effevottu E. S. 2021 Women Political Participation Representation and Sustainable development In Nigeria, 1999-2019. Young African Leaders Journal of Development Vol 3 . P 25
[5] Anifowose, R. 2004, Women political participation in Nigeria: Problems and prospects in Paradox of Gender Equality in Nigerian Politics. Akinboye S.O. (ed), Lagos: Concept Human Sciences Series. P 211
[6] Oliseh K.N 2020 A Historical Survey of Women Association In Kwale up to 1950. In Oladeji M.T Gender, Politics and Governance in Africa: The Known and Unknown. Ibadan. Reamsworth publishing Limited p 37
