Her Voice, Her Vote: Empowering Women for Political Leadership in Nigeria
Project Overview
The AJU Morgan Elumelu Foundation is embarking on a transformative project to increase women’s participation in political leadership in Nigeria. This initiative, titled Her Voice, Her Vote, focuses on encouraging more women to run for political office and advocating for implementing the 35% affirmative action for women in appointed and elected positions. We seek to partner with a core international organization dedicated to advancing women’s rights and gender equality in leadership. Together, we aim to drive impactful change by building a strong coalition that promotes equal representation and amplifies women’s voices in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Background and Rationale
Despite various global and national commitments to gender equality, women remain significantly underrepresented in Nigeria’s political leadership. In the 2019 elections, women occupied less than 10% of elected offices, far below the 35% affirmative action target Nigeria committed to under the National Gender Policy. Cultural barriers, societal norms, limited access to resources, and a lack of political mentorship hinder women from engaging in politics. These disparities weaken the overall quality of governance, depriving Nigeria of the diverse perspectives and leadership women bring to the table.
Her Voice, Her Vote addresses these challenges by creating an enabling environment for women to step forward, run for office, and influence policy. By working with an international partner, we aim to scale our advocacy efforts and build a platform that empowers Nigerian women to claim their rightful place in decision-making processes.
Project Goals
- Increase Female Political Representation: Encourage more women to run for political office through targeted leadership training, mentorship programs, and public awareness campaigns.
- Advocate for 35% Affirmative Action: Collaborate with key stakeholders to push for the implementation and enforcement of the 35% Affirmative Action policy for women in appointed and elected positions.
- Build a Network of Female Leaders: Establish a robust network of women in politics that fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and peer support to strengthen their political engagement and influence.
- Engage Public and Private Sectors: Involve local governments, civil society organizations, and private entities to support gender-inclusive policies and practices that promote women’s leadership.
VISION STATEMENT
To join our voices with other development enthusiasts to bring sustainable
development to Nigeria and Africa at large through our well-articulated projects.