The Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye, has expressed concern over the minimal involvement of women in Nigerian politics, emphasizing the necessity for immediate action to address this imbalance in governance and decision-making processes.
Speaking at a one-day HeForShe Conference in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Aribasoye delivered a keynote address titled “Accelerate Action, Building Alliances: Men as Allies in Advancing Women’s Political Participation.” The event, organized by the Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development (BIGIF), brought together diverse stakeholders including government officials, private sector representatives, civil society organizations, and community advocates under the theme “Ekiti HeForShe: Advancing Gender-Responsive Governance and Inclusive Leadership.”
In his address, Aribasoye highlighted alarming statistics from the 2023 general elections, noting that women account for merely three percent of Senate membership and four percent of House of Representatives seats. He emphasized that such underrepresentation contradicts democratic principles and hinders national development.
“When women are excluded from policy-making processes, we lose valuable perspectives and insights that could help create more comprehensive and effective policies for our communities,” the Speaker stated.
Aribasoye called for transformative measures, stressing that advancing gender equality requires men’s active participation as allies. “Progress cannot be achieved by women in isolation. We must work together to dismantle deeply rooted patriarchal systems that continue to limit women’s full political participation,” he asserted.
The Speaker outlined the legislature’s responsibility to establish laws promoting gender equality and protecting women’s rights. He advocated for creating an environment of mutual respect where men actively support women’s leadership aspirations.
“The HeForShe movement reminds us that gender equality is not exclusively a women’s issue but a fundamental human rights concern requiring collective action,” Aribasoye remarked. “Men, who often hold positions of influence, have the capacity to challenge and transform structures perpetuating inequality.”
While acknowledging Ekiti State’s progress on gender issues, the Speaker emphasized the need to move beyond rhetoric toward implementing concrete strategies that empower women in politics.
Dr. Oluwatumininu Adedeji, Executive Director of BIGIF, reinforced the importance of male allies in dismantling systemic barriers to women’s political participation. “Achieving gender equality requires commitment from men and institutions to challenge biases, support affirmative action, and ensure equal opportunities for everyone,” she stated.
The conference highlighted the urgent need for institutionalizing gender-responsive policies and implementing gender quotas to increase women’s representation in governance structures.
