IWD 2026: Low participation of women in politics worrisome — Nonye Soludo

n n

Nonye Soludo

n

By Vincent Ujumadu

n

The wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Nonye Soludo, has expressed concern over the low participation of women in politics, urging them to take a more active role in decision-making and leadership.

n

In a statement issued to mark the 2026 celebration of International Women’s Day, Soludo called for a review of strategies aimed at increasing women’s participation in politics, warning that endless conversations without practical action may not produce the desired results.

n

She stressed that everyone must be involved in the push to create an environment where women and girls can thrive.

n

According to her, decades of discussions, studies, seminars, protests and appeals on improving the position of women in society have not yielded sufficient progress.

n

“The time of staying on the sidelines is over. Women must now be at the centre and forefront of these efforts,” she said.

n

Soludo noted that the number of women participating in politics remains significantly low and urged women to overcome their reservations about the political system and actively engage in governance.

n

She encouraged women with political aspirations to take bold steps toward becoming change-makers, assuring them of collective support.

n

The governor’s wife also commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for proposing legislation that would mandate a specific number of seats for women in the National Assembly.

n

According to her, such a policy would provide an opportunity for elected women to represent and amplify the voices of millions of other women seeking greater inclusion in governance.

n

She, however, appealed that if the proposal is adopted, similar provisions should be extended to state Houses of Assembly to ensure broader representation.

n

Soludo observed that women have consistently demonstrated strong leadership and management skills when entrusted with responsibility.

n

She cited the example of Anambra State, where more women currently occupy key government positions than ever before, adding that many of them have distinguished themselves through professionalism and excellence.

n

She further emphasised that being a woman goes beyond gender identity, describing it as a call to contribute intelligence, energy and dedication to societal development.

n

Soludo added that her non-governmental initiative, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, is working to empower women to become practical change-makers by promoting healthy lifestyles and community engagement.

n

According to her, the initiative has produced hundreds of women leading community workouts and programmes across the state, helping to build stronger and healthier communities.

n

She noted that the empowerment of 25 women under the programme was part of efforts to encourage them to seize opportunities and build sustainable livelihoods.

n

Soludo stressed that meaningful progress for women requires moving beyond advocacy to concrete actions that create equal opportunities and protect women and girls from discrimination, harassment and social injustice.

n

“When one woman is rightly empowered, a generation is empowered,” she added, urging stakeholders to turn advocacy into practical steps that advance gender equality and inclusive development.

n n