UN Deputy Chief on Inside Sources Supports Reserved seats for women in Nigerian parliament
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, has lamented Nigeria’s poor representation of women in governance, noting that even Somalia—a country long ravaged by conflict—has more women in its parliament than Africa’s most populous nation. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande aired on Channels Television on Friday, Mohammed stressed that no country could attain […]
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, has lamented Nigeria’s poor representation of women in governance, noting that even Somalia—a country long ravaged by conflict—has more women in its parliament than Africa’s most populous nation.
Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande aired on Channels Television on Friday, Mohammed stressed that no country could attain its full potential without giving equal opportunities to women.
Calling Nigeria’s situation a “missed opportunity,” Mohammed stressed: “No country will fully develop its potentials without the other half of the population. And we are missing. We are missing in Nigeria. We are missing in many places. But we do have role models. Rwanda is one. Even Somalia that is, you know, in conflict, has challenges, has got more women in their parliament than we have in my country.”
“And in democracies, women have to vote for women and men have to vote for women. And that space has to be created,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for reforms that create entry points for women in leadership.
She highlighted that many African countries have already adopted provisions to boost women’s participation, describing them as critical first steps towards building inclusive democracies. “There is an environment in which it is very difficult to follow the political processes. And in many of our countries in Africa, for sure, you know, we have put provisions that allow women to get in there so that they are established and then they can move. So, a leg up so that we can begin to move together,” she explained.
She urged a change in attitudes and policies that restrict women’s participation, insisting that representation should extend from local government to the national assembly and corporate boards. “It’s about men’s attitudes changing. It’s about opening up that space from the local government all the way through to the national parliament. It’s important because the world see this as a norm, that you will have a fair balance of women in the workplace, women in leadership,” she noted.
Using the United Nations as an example, Mohammed revealed that women now make up half of the UN’s leadership: “Here in the UN, yes, the Secretary-General is a man, but 50% of his management, 50% of the leadership of the UN is women. In the representation that we have in countries, in 131 countries of the UN, 50% are women. Actually, about 53% are women. So, we are showing the way. The African Union did it first, half of its commissioners are women.”
She emphasized that the push for inclusion is not merely about quotas, but about the value women bring to decision-making: “I think it’s not a question of numbers. It’s a question of what we bring to the table and how we can make life better. We attain our agency, our rights, but life is better when you bring a woman around a decision-making table. Peace, for business, in your house, everything.”
Mohammed expressed support for affirmative action as a crucial “first concrete step,” noting that Nigeria risks lagging behind the rest of the world if it fails to act.
“I think that we should do that. It has become a norm and expectation that you have a better balance in your parliaments around the world. If Nigeria wants to see itself in leadership in many of the institutions we have, it’s important for us to show that women matter in our country, that women can be part of the decision-making and in some of the highest offices, and particularly when we are representing people in our parliaments.”
She reminded Nigerians that both men and women must play active roles in electing more women into office. “Affirmative action, it’s a good first concrete step. Allow us that first concrete step. And I can assure you that we will be able to go forward in years to come, you know, in the electorate. But as I say, it needs both women and men to vote for women.”
Acknowledging Nigeria’s wider challenges, from insecurity to climate change, Mohammed nevertheless argued that greater inclusion of women would strengthen national efforts.
“I think that we have huge challenges, like every other African country on the continent. But are we doing the best that we can do about it? We’re making the best efforts possible. And when I see what we’re doing for the economy, how we’re trying to fight the insecurity in the country, remember, the insecurity in Nigeria is not without the border and the whole regional impacts of it when we are trying to fight climate. So, I think that, you know, the efforts are commendable.”