NGO seeks media collaboration to amplify women’s special seats bill

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Stand To End Rape (STER) has reached out to the media for partnership to promote the special seats bill, which has successfully passed a second reading in the House of Representatives as of July.

Tribune Online reports that the special seat bill is a vital move toward bridging the gender gap by allocating additional seats for women in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.

The NGO stated, “This is not about granting special privileges; it’s about ensuring women have equal opportunities to influence the decisions shaping our nation. Female legislators are essential for enacting laws that protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence as well as addressing broader economic and social challenges.”

At a town hall meeting focused on enhancing women’s political representation with a special focus on the special seat bill in Calabar, Elfrida Adeleye, Communication Officer for Stand To End Rape, highlighted Cross River as one of the few states actively supporting women’s involvement in politics.

She emphasised that if the media, government officials, politicians, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and political leaders collaborate, women could secure important positions and contribute meaningfully to national development.

“We continue to engage here due to the support from the Cross River State Government, particularly the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs. We seek to partner with the right individuals to promote this initiative. Our goal is to create an environment where women can engage in politics as they do in fields like nursing and medicine.”

Adeleye pointed out that gender issues are often overlooked in the National Assembly due to a lack of proper representation. With the special seat bill, women will have an equitable platform for participation. The bill, set for 16 years, aims to ensure women hold significant seats by then and are active in shaping national policies for development.

Eyoanwan Otu, the Governor’s wife of Cross River State, represented by Jeffrey Adamade, Special Assistant on NGOs, affirmed her office’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs on various initiatives. Otu pledged her commitment to supporting increased women’s representation in politics.

Mercy Akpama, the sole female member of the 25-member Cross River 10th Assembly representing Yakurr II State Constituency, echoed her support for women’s involvement in politics, urging women to run for elective positions regardless of having special seats.

“I advocate for women to engage in all aspects of politics because we hold important roles. I remain strong despite being the only woman in the Assembly, and I urge more women to emerge in upcoming elections in the quest for gender balance.”

Hon. Edema Irom, the Cross River State Commissioner for Women Affairs, noted that the timing of the town hall meeting coincides with the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.

She remarked, “Women represent a significant portion of voters in the state, yet we are often marginalized. We must be intentional about our desires as women. There is widespread ignorance regarding the Special Seats Bill. Including more women in politics could significantly reduce gender-based violence. We need to continuously amplify women’s voices in all gatherings to reach our goals.”

Keynote speaker Barr. James Ibor, Principal Counsel at Basic Rights Counsel, referred to countries that have adopted affirmative action, which have made notable progress toward gender equality in governance, urging Nigeria to adopt similar measures.

The Town Hall Meeting included presentations, input from various women’s groups, and a Q&A session, organized by Stand To End Rape in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, with support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Abuja.

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