Emerge Women Development Initiative is set to host a pivotal dialogue on advancing gender equity in Nigeria’s political landscape. The organization will convene a special edition of its quarterly dialogue series, SheThePeople, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 10:00 AM prompt at the ECWD Centre (former NBA Building), Garki II, Abuja. Themed “Deepening the Conversation, Accelerating Women’s Representation in Governance,” the event will spotlight the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349 & SB 440) and other gender-focused legislative reforms currently before the National Assembly.

The SheThePeople platform, founded by gender advocate Mary Ikoku, aims to foster high-level conversations around women’s political participation and empowerment in Nigeria. This edition will convene policymakers, civil society leaders, media professionals, development partners, and grassroots women leaders for robust dialogue on legislative strategies, public buy-in, and advocacy pathways. The event will feature a keynote address, panel discussions with policy and gender experts, and interactive dialogue sessions with participants.

Speaking ahead of the dialogue, Mary Ikoku emphasized the urgency of the bill, stating that “Reserved seats are not a favor—they are a structural correction for decades of exclusion. We must build the momentum to make this reform a reality.”

The dialogue is hosted in partnership with the Entrepreneurship Centre for Women Development (ECWD) committed to supporting ongoing stakeholder engagement and advocacy around gender-responsive legislation.

In reaction to the initiative, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of WARDC, expressed her solidarity with the SheThePeople Dialogue, stating, “We’ve talked long enough—now is the time for institutional action. These bills represent a turning point for women’s rights in Nigeria.”

Expected to attend the dialogue are top government officials and prominent stakeholders, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman House Committee on Constitution Review, the Rt. Honourable Benjamin Okezie Kalu CFR, Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Director-General of the Women Development Centre, Dr. Vilita Asabe, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Deputy National Woman Leader of the APC, members of the diplomatic community, civil society organizations, and many other distinguished experts, policymakers, and leaders. Their participation underscores the significance of this dialogue in shaping the future of women’s representation in Nigerian governance.

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