Hadiza's Blog

Women’s underrepresentation in decision-making remains as a stark reality, according to  UN       Women’s global data on Women Political Leaders 2024 . The underrepresentation of Nigerian women in governance and politics has been a longstanding issue in political discourse. Currently, women occupy only a small fraction of the seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly, with 3 out of 109 senators and 15 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives being female while, there are five appointed women ministers out of 45. Since gaining independence in 1960, Nigeria is yet to have a female president. On the 9th of July the House of Representatives advanced a bill to its second reading, aiming to create 74 seats for women in the National Assembly. The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and 12 others, proposes amendments to Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to establish “Special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Se...

  UN Women in Nigeria, in collaboration with partners, continues to advocate for gender equality, increased political participation of women, and their empowerment . Photo: UN WOMEN The Women’s Political Participation Working Group and UN Women have called for a gender-inclusive constitution to foster national development and enhance women’s participation in politics. The group made the call in Abuja, during the Coordination and Strategy Meeting on Action Reforms to Increase Women’s Political Representation in the ongoing constitution review process. Professor Joy Ezeilo, an activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, presented a paper on Constitution Review and Gender Bills, urging the 10th assembly to implement the 35 percent affirmative action, as seen in other countries and in accordance with international standards, to promote equity, fairness, and justice. She highlighted the historical exclusion of women in constitution-making in Nigeria and stressed the need for women’s repres...

  Sexual assault affects people across various demographics. Despite legal frameworks and awareness campaigns, the country continues to grapple with high rates of sexual assault, underreporting, and cultural stigmas that inhibit justice and healing for victims. Recently, the issue of sexual assault gained attention on X space with the hashtag “#EndSACultureInCMUL,” involving allegations of medical students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) sexually assaulting their female colleagues. An X user  @Theariaspeaks  had posted a thread drawing attention to the widespread issue of sexual assault at UNILAG, sharing anonymous accounts from victims and  criticized the university’s inability  to hold perpetrators accountable. This is not the first time the university has faced such a scandal. In 2023,  Dr Kadiri Akeem Bablola,  a lecturer at the university, was detained after being accused of raping a 20-year-old female undergraduate student in his office....

  A woman washing at a stream in Wassa IDP Camp in the FCT. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman Nigeria faces significant challenges in guaranteeing the human right to water for its population. A 2022 World Bank report reveals that  60 million  Nigerians lacked access to basic drinking water, and in 2021, over 100 million lacked basic sanitation. This deficiency leads to waterborne diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and typhoid, causing millions of deaths annually, especially among children under five.  women and girls are disproportionately affected , spending hours collecting water and facing risks, leaving them little or no time for education, work, or other activities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal health is also severely impacted, with expectant and new mothers facing increased risks without clean water. In Takushara, Abuja, young girls collecting water from a canal. Photo: Hadiza Abdulrahman TAKUSHARA In Abuja, the nation’s capital, some commun...

The International Women’s Day was born out of labour  movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. Since then, the day has grown in prominence and reach. The growing movement, which has been strengthened by   four global United Nations   (UN) women’s conferences, has helped make its commemoration a rallying point for action to build support for women’s rights and their full participation in political, economic and social spheres of the society. Today, women from all walks of life are also recognized and celebrated for their resilience, courage, and contributions to their societies. In recent years, there has been significant progress in advancing women’s rights and opportunities across various domains, including education, politics, and the workforce. However, pervasive gender disparities persist, hindering the full realization of women’s potential and impeding global development efforts. From unequal access to education and healthcar...