By ENITAN ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA, mnipr
The Vito Corsica Deck of the National Association of Seadogs (NAS) Pyrates Confraternity has intensified conversations on the place of women in Nigeria’s political landscape, emphasizing the urgent need to promote inclusive governance and deepen democratic participation across all levels of leadership.
The engagement formed part of a radio programme organised by the Vito Corsica Deck to examine the persistent barriers confronting women in politics and the pathways toward achieving gender balance in leadership. The discussion featured the member representing Oshimili South State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Bridget Anyafulu, and the Head of the Public and Private Law Department at the Admiralty University of Nigeria, Egondu Ikeatu, who served as guest speakers.
During the programme, the speakers examined the structural and socio-cultural challenges limiting women’s political advancement in Nigeria. While both agreed that prevailing political realities make the emergence of a female president in Nigeria unlikely in the immediate future, they stressed that this should not discourage ongoing efforts to build stronger support systems capable of enhancing women’s participation in governance.
Hon. Anyafulu noted that political leadership across the world still reflects entrenched gender biases, even in advanced democracies that are often regarded as models for governance. According to her, the outcome of previous presidential elections in the United States illustrates that gender barriers remain a global challenge.
“Even America is not ready for a woman president; otherwise, Hillary Clinton would have won, and Kamala Harris would have emerged victorious as well,” she said. “Because we often look to the West as the most advanced societies, we sometimes forget that Africans are also progressive and capable of shaping their own political realities.”
The lawmaker also pointed out that Africa has produced several notable female leaders who have successfully governed their countries, demonstrating that women possess the capacity to lead effectively when given the opportunity.
While acknowledging the progress recorded over the years, she maintained that women’s participation in politics in Nigeria remains relatively low due to deeply rooted patriarchal traditions and structural barriers that limit their access to political resources and decision-making platforms.
Hon. Anyafulu explained that economic constraints also play a major role, noting that the high cost of political campaigns often discourages women from contesting elective offices. However, she observed that increased awareness and advocacy for gender inclusion have gradually begun to improve the political fortunes of women in some parts of the country, particularly in Delta State.
She further addressed criticisms surrounding the performance of some women who previously occupied public offices, arguing that such narratives should not be used to undermine the potential of future female leaders.
According to her, leadership failures are not exclusive to any gender, and women must be given the opportunity to learn from past experiences and demonstrate stronger leadership in future political engagements.
Responding from a legal and governance perspective, Dr. Ikeatu urged women to move beyond long-standing advocacy rhetoric and channel their efforts into deliberate and strategic political engagement.
She emphasized that the struggle for gender equity in governance should not be perceived as a women-only campaign but rather as a collective responsibility that requires the support of both men and women in society.
Dr. Ikeatu also cautioned against the notion of granting leadership opportunities to women out of sympathy or tokenism, stressing that positions of authority must be earned on the basis of competence, preparedness, and leadership capacity.
According to her, empowering capable women in leadership positions strengthens democratic institutions and contributes to better governance outcomes.
“Women should not be given power out of pity,” she said. “They should be supported because they are competent and capable. Men should not feel threatened when women contribute meaningfully to political leadership and national development.”
She further argued that when women are sometimes appointed or elected into leadership positions, there are often underlying expectations that they may struggle to succeed.
“In many cases, when women are handed leadership positions, people do not actually expect them to succeed,” she said.
“Sometimes the intention is simply to quiet them temporarily, with the hope that they will eventually become distracted or overwhelmed.”
The discussion concluded with a call for sustained advocacy, institutional reforms, and deliberate policies that will create a more enabling environment for women to participate actively in Nigeria’s political process.
Participants also emphasized the importance of mentorship, political education, and economic empowerment programmes aimed at preparing more women to seek elective and appointive offices, noting that broader inclusion remains essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring balanced representation in governance.