By Chinedum Treasure
Stakeholders in governance and civil society have called on women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State to rise above social, cultural, and structural barriers that limit their participation in leadership and politics.
They made the call during a one-day Leadership Development Workshop organized by the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) for aspiring women and PWD leaders in the state.
The workshop formed part of SIDEC’s Inclusive Mobilization for Participation, Advocacy, and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT), being implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and supported by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
One of stakeholders and Candidate of African Action Congress (AAC) in the November 8 Anambra governorship election, Chioma Ifemeludike described current level of women’s representation in Nigerian politics as unacceptable, noting that women occupy less than five percent of seats in the National Assembly.
She urged participants to support the passage of the Special Seats Bill seeking to create additional seats for women in the National and State Assemblies in order to improve their representation in governance.
“Women occupying less than 5% of seats in the National Assembly is unacceptable. There is a need for intense advocacy to ensure the bill is passed before the 2027 general elections.
“Civil society groups, the media, and women’s organisations must intensify advocacy efforts through campaigns, rallies, and other forms of engagement.
“Women in Anambra and across Nigeria possess the competence and leadership qualities required to occupy elective offices.
Reflecting on her own political journey, she said courage, integrity, and a clear purpose were the driving forces that sustained her throughout the election process.
In another presentation, lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mimi Azikiwe urged women to challenge societal expectations that often confine them to domestic roles.
“Women need to tell themselves the truth. We are often treated as second-class citizens because society was structured to work for men. But outside those expectations, we are also individuals with dreams and aspirations.
“Being women, wives, sisters, and daughters does not stop us from becoming business leaders, millionaires, or powerful politicians.
“We must dismantle structural barriers such as limited access to funding, weak political networks, and cultural attitudes that discourage women from contesting leadership positions.
“Women must deliberately build networks, seek mentorship and develop the confidence required to compete effectively in politics and other leadership spaces,” she added.
Azikiwe also drew attention to the need for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance, noting that many of them possess the capacity to contribute meaningfully to public leadership if given the opportunity.
Media consultant, Ify Unachukwu highlighted the achievements of Nigerian women who have made significant contributions to governance and public service.
In her presentation on “Success Stories of Women in Elective and Appointive Positions in Nigeria,” she referenced notable figures such as Margaret Ekpo, whose activism helped lay the foundation for women’s political participation in Nigeria.
“Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), led major reforms and crackdown on counterfeit drugs and restored public confidence in the country’s pharmaceutical sector.
“Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance and current Director-General of the World Trade Organization, played a pivotal role in securing Nigeria’s historic debt relief and promoting fiscal transparency.
Other notable women leaders she mentioned included Virginia Etiaba, Nigeria’s first female governor, and Uche Ekwunife, known for her legislative contributions and constituency development initiatives.
Earlier, Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said the workshop was designed to equip women and persons with disabilities with the skills and confidence needed to actively participate in governance and decision-making processes.
According to her, the initiative is a key component of Project IMPACT, which seeks to increase the participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in governance across Anambra and Imo states.
She explained that the project focuses strongly on grassroots engagement, particularly within market communities where a large number of eligible voters are concentrated.
“A key component of the project is its engagement with communities and markets, building on SIDEC’s inclusive governance work across Anambra’s 158 structured markets where large numbers of eligible voters—particularly women and young people who make up most traders, apprentices, and market workers—are concentrated.”
Ehiahuruike added that leadership development workshops were being organized in selected markets to strengthen leadership capacity and encourage more women and PWDs to take up leadership roles in their communities and political spaces.
She also highlighted the skills required for effective leadership, noting that aspiring leaders must develop conceptual, technical, and social skills in order to function effectively in diverse environments.
“In a diverse world, inclusive leadership is essential. Inclusion is about creating an environment where everyone can be themselves, contribute their views, and feel that those views are valued,” she added.
The workshop also featured goodwill messages from key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretaries of the Anambra State Ministries of Women Affairs and Agriculture, Chinwe Achugbu and Ify Uzoka, as well as leaders of various women’s groups, including market women and smallholder women farmers.
Participants at the workshop expressed optimism that initiatives such as Project IMPACT would help empower more women and persons with disabilities to participate actively in leadership and governance in the state and beyond.
