Women Must Engage In Real Politics – Bisi Fayemi

Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the wife of Kayode Fayemi, the former governor of Ekiti State, has urged Nigerian women to move beyond social media activism and actively participate in real politics to influence the nation’s future.

At the 2025 Transformative Gender Justice Conference, which had the theme “March Forward: From Promises to Progress—Advancing the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol,” Adeleye-Fayemi emphasised the importance of strategic planning to increase women’s involvement in decision-making across governance, private institutions, and development organisations.

Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria organised the conference in collaboration with the Side-by-Side movement, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Act Alliance Nigeria, ActionAid Nigeria, Plan International, and Girls Not Brides – National Coalition on Ending Child Marriage.

Adeleye-Fayemi stressed that women must engage in grassroots politics to avoid being underrepresented in leadership roles.

While social media platforms are useful tools for raising awareness, they do not translate into actual political power.

“There is no polling unit on social media,” she stated. “Instead of spending excessive time online, we should focus on mobilising at the grassroots level to support female leaders. We are not competing with men; rather, we are advocating for fair representation in political appointments and governance.”

She urged women to return to their communities, educate local women about politics, and cultivate greater political interest among them. She said this would increase the number of women in leadership at both federal and state levels.

Fayemi also called for legislative reforms to ensure gender equality in education, employment, and governance.

“We need laws that guarantee women access to education, internship opportunities, affirmative action, special legislative seats, and political appointments.”

She urged governments, academic institutions, security agencies, regional bodies, and corporate organisations to develop comprehensive gender policies that promote social justice and equal opportunities.

“If corporate organisations can invest in reality shows, beauty pageants, music concerts, and cooking competitions, they can also afford to fund training programmes that empower women and young people,” she asserted.

She lamented that despite global gender advocacy efforts, African women—particularly Nigerian women—are still fighting for their rights, voices, and space in leadership.

“Thirty years after the Beijing Conference and 25 years after the UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, Nigerian women remain underrepresented in key leadership positions,” she said.

Fayemi pointed out alarming statistics that illustrate the need for urgent action:

Nigeria has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates globally, accounting for 12% of global cases, second only to India’s 17%.

Nigeria ranks highest in West Africa for child labour, with 22 million affected children, making it the 11th highest globally.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) prevalence stands at 20%, placing Nigeria 38th out of 160 countries in the 2023 Global Slavery Index.

UNICEF reports that 18.3 million Nigerian children are out of school, 60% of them being girls.

Meanwhile, Country Director Christian Aid Nigeria Mr Temitope Fashola, said, over the years, we have seen numerous commitments to gender equality, yet the real challenge remains in turning these commitments into tangible actions that truly benefit women and girls.

As we reflect on our progress, we must also confront the barriers that persist-gender-based violence, economic exclusion, political underrepresentation, and deep-seated cultural norms that continue to hinder true equality, Fashola said.

He also said, At Christian Aid Nigeria, we firmly believe that gender justice is not an option but a necessity. It is fundamental to achieving sustainable development, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring equity for all.

“Our partners-the Side-By-Side (SBS) movement, Nigeria, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (SBS Secretariat), Action Aid Nigeria, Plan International, and the National Coalition on Ending Child Marriage-we continue to work tirelessly to challenge harmful norms, influence policies, and create an enabling environment where every individual, regardless of gender, can thrive.”