The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has urged women across Nigeria to support female candidates in the upcoming 2027 general elections. Speaking at the 9th Voice of Women Conference and Awards in Abuja, she stressed the urgency of promoting women’s inclusion in politics and called for immediate action.
Adeleye highlighted that women must harness their collective strength to effect change in Nigeria’s political landscape. She noted that economic empowerment is crucial for political participation, because women with resources are better equipped to navigate the country’s money‑driven system. As an illustration, she cited groups of women who have pooled resources to acquire land and receive training, enabling them to back candidates in local elections.
The commissioner pointed to the Nigeria for Women Project—a World Bank‑supported initiative—as a successful model of grassroots mobilization translating into political influence. Through this project, women have pooled resources, accessed farmland, and received leadership training, ultimately supporting candidates at the local level.
Adeleye also addressed the structural imbalances in Nigeria’s political system, arguing that equity, not merely equality, is needed to rectify historical gender exclusion. She emphasized that deliberate policies are required to correct these imbalances, noting that men currently hold 95 percent of leadership positions.
Calling for solidarity, Adeleye urged women to collaborate and support one another, dispelling the notion that women do not help each other. She encouraged bridging the gap between urban and rural areas to increase collective power ahead of the 2027 elections. Women were asked to support female candidates in their states, either by contesting elections themselves or by backing those who do.
Adeleye’s remarks underscore the importance of women’s participation in politics and the need for collective action to promote gender inclusion. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, her call to action highlights the significance of economic empowerment and collaboration among women in shaping the country’s political future, with the Nigeria for Women Project serving as a model for increasing representation and influence.
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