Katsina First Lady Pushes Gender Inclusion With Forum Name Change

The First Lady of Katsina State, Zulaihat Dikko Radda, has announced the renaming of the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum to the Northern Governors’ Spouses Forum, in a move aimed at promoting inclusivity and accommodating future female leadership across the region.

She made the announcement during a public engagement chaired by her husband, Umaru Radda, drawing applause from attendees.

A video capturing the moment has since gone viral on social media, sparking conversations around gender inclusion in governance and political participation in northern Nigeria.

Explaining the rationale behind the decision, the First Lady said the change followed consultations with counterparts in other African countries, noting that retaining the former name would limit inclusivity.

“Leaving the name as Northern Governors’ Wives Forum means we are totally eliminating women’s participation in politics. By changing it to Spouses Forum, it ensures that if a female governor emerges,r her husband can also be part of the forum,” she said.

The development comes amid sustained advocacy by politicians, activists and women-focused groups pushing for the passage of the reserved seats bill, aimed at boosting female representation in Nigeria’s political landscape.