Why Nigerian women’s stories need visibility to drive — Senator Natasha

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has said that the future of women’s leadership in Nigeria depends on deliberate efforts to document and amplify their stories.

Akpoti-Uduaghan made this known on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the WikiGap Nigeria Symposium 2026.

The lawmaker also pledged a monthly donation of N1 million to support a writing competition aimed at digitally preserving the contributions of notable Nigerian women.

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She noted that the marginalisation of women in knowledge systems has contributed significantly to their exclusion from leadership and power structures.

“When women are invisible in knowledge, they are excluded from power,” she said.

She added that initiatives like WikiGap are designed to address historical gaps in documentation.

According to her, many Nigerian women making significant impacts across various sectors remain largely undocumented, leading to their contributions being undervalued.

“Across Nigeria, women are leading, innovating, and transforming communities, yet too many of their stories remain undocumented and unrecognised,” she said.

The senator stressed that documenting women’s achievements goes beyond information sharing, describing it as a tool for advancing rights, justice, and opportunity.

“By creating and improving articles about notable Nigerian women, WikiGap is not just filling content gaps; it is expanding opportunities because visibility is power,” she added.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who reflected on her personal experience in politics, highlighted the structural and cultural barriers women face, urging stakeholders to preserve and promote women’s narratives.

She called on journalists, writers, and content creators to prioritise documenting women’s journeys, achievements, and challenges to inspire future generations.

The senator also encouraged women to actively participate in knowledge creation, stressing that they must not only be subjects of stories but also authors of their own narratives.

The event featured panel discussions, workshops, and collaborative sessions focused on improving women’s representation in digital knowledge systems.