Tinubu Tasks Female Leaders On Democratic Governance

President Bola Tinubu has commended the founder of TOS Foundation Africa, Mrs Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, for her commitment to promoting gender equity and inclusive governance through the targeted training of young women leaders.

Speaking on Friday during the graduation ceremony of the first cohort of the HerCademy Leadership Training programme at the National Assembly Library in Abuja, the President, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the initiative serves as a strategic platform to equip women with the legislative exposure and policy insights required to participate effectively in governance.

He noted that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises measurable social development and women’s empowerment, emphasising that sustainable national development depends largely on investments in people and institutions that cultivate excellence. Tinubu congratulated the pioneers of the institution, charging them to act as pathfinders whose leadership values will shape the identity of the academy for generations to come.

In a matching address, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, described the acute underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political space as a democratic emergency that forces the country to operate at half capacity. Represented by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, the Senate President lamented that despite women constituting nearly half of Nigeria’s population, they occupy a mere 3.67 per cent of the seats in the 10th National Assembly, representing just four out of 109 senators and 16 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives. Akpabio maintained that this exclusion deprives the nation of critical perspectives on national security, education, healthcare, and economic stability, which are areas where women often bring empathy and alternative conflict-resolution approaches. He lauded the HerCademy Leadership Institute for launching the specialized legislative mentorship programme and recommended the immediate establishment of an alumni advocacy hub to provide the graduates with sustained policy resources and legislative networks ahead of the 2027 general elections.