The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has reaffirmed the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to enacting strong legislative measures to protect and empower women in politics. Speaking at the Nigerian Women Leadership and Empowerment Conference 2025 in Abuja, he emphasized the need for gender-inclusive governance and policies that ensure women’s equal representation in political and economic spheres.
Abbas highlighted key legislative efforts, including a Legislative Agenda prioritizing women’s political participation, the establishment of two committees focused on women’s issues, and the inclusion of female lawmakers in the Constitution Amendment Committee. He also called for special seats for women in legislative houses and gender quotas in political parties.
Beyond politics, he stressed the importance of economic empowerment for women, citing global models that Nigeria can adopt. He also pledged support for enforcing the National Gender Policy and amending the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) to enhance women’s rights.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Hajiya Fatima Abbas, advocated for addressing structural challenges that hinder women’s progress. Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, described the conference as a movement for gender equality. A major highlight was the launch of the National Compendium of Women in Leadership Positions and recognition of individuals committed to women’s empowerment, including the First Lady, Speaker Abbas, and Minister Nyesom Wike.
The event brought together policymakers, civil society groups, and development partners to strategize on enhancing women’s leadership and participation in national development.
