Akpabio Backs Greater Women Participation During Sokoto Honour for Margai

The Nigerian Senate has pledged its support with all legislative powers to discourses and initiatives that will deepen women inclusion in the country’s electoral system. Senate President Godswill Akpabio said that gender equity must now be put “on the front burner” of national politics.

The commitment was made by Akpabio at the first Democracy Day Lecture and Book Presentation held at the Sokoto State University, Sokoto . The event was organised to honour the memory of Hajiya Surraya Abubakar Margai, the first and only elected political office holder in Sokoto State since the return of democracy in 1999.

Senate President, who spoke in a statement through his Chief of Staff, Chinedu Francis Akubueze said he was “thrilled” with the quality of the lecture and the symbolic choice of Margai as the honoree for the event, saying her legacy underscored the need for increased female participation in governance.

In her remarks, the Director-General, Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization, CBAAC, Aisha Adamu Augie, argued that the Nigeria democratic system cannot mature without deliberate inclusion and gender sensitivity in all levels of decision making.

Augie referred to women as “architects of development” and urged Nigerian men to create space for women to lead, stating that female leadership brings empathy and balance to the democratic space.

Guest lecturer Prof. Aisha Balarabe Bawa, Professor of History and International Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto challenged the National Assembly to “honestly revisit” pending gender-related constitutional amendments and electoral reforms, warning that inclusive governance remains central to national unity.

Prof. Bawa, speaking on the theme ‘Local Beats, Global Standards: Nigeria’s Gender Inclusion and Development Implications’, said the commemoration of June 12 should not be merely symbolic, but a call to action for government, policymakers and citizens alike.

“The inclusiveness of Nigeria’s institutions will determine the future of Nigeria’s democracy,” said Bawa. “If we want sustainable progress, we cannot treat women’s political participation as an afterthought.

She added: “A country that gives women a seat at the table is a country that guarantees wider engagement, increased legitimacy and sustainable progress. “The task before us is clear; to build a Nigeria where local democratic seats meet democratic standards.”

Prof. M.B. Yerima, Vice-Chancellor, Sokoto State University also added his voice in the campaign, saying the days when a woman was relegated to the kitchen were over, and that women had proven equal to the task in politics and administration.

He also said that “women are also less corrupt” and urged stakeholders across party lines to create more opportunities for female leadership at the federal, state and local government levels.

The lecture which was organized by the Sokoto State University in collaboration with the CBAAC, the Effective Governance Research Institute and the Productive Community for Sustainable Development Initiative, PCSDI also witnessed the launching of a book on Margai by the Head of Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Dr Odeh Godwin Onuh.

“The dialogue was meant to provide the opportunity to scholars, policymakers, civil society and community leaders to discuss equitable representation,” said PCSDI Executive Director Nura Bello.

Some eminent Nigerians like Senate Minority Leader Patrick Abba Moro were also honoured at the event for their contributions on women and youth empowerment.