FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Deputy Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Maria Edeko has called on the National and State Assemblies to support the passage of the bill to create special seats for women in elective positions.
Edeko made the call at the weekend in Benin City at an event organised by the state Ministry of Women Affairs to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration.
Acknowledging the pain that women go through in the community, especially in the political circle, the deputy speaker noted that the special seats would give women increased representation.
She added that it would be a measure to create equality, as Nigeria has only four percent women representation compared to Rwanda, which has over 60 percent of women in governance.
“It is sad to see that we have a country where we have few women in elective positions and in the legislature, and they are also constantly suppressed.
“We have a bill for a law in the National Assembly for the creation of special seats for women and we urge political leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and people of goodwill to support the bill.
“The special seats would not infringe on the rights of anyone who aspires to any elective position,” Edeko said.
She explained that creating special seats for women would strengthen democracy by ensuring inclusive governance and diverse representation in decision-making.
She emphasised that empowering them politically would lead to policies that address social welfare, education and economic development, benefiting the entire nation.
The deputy speaker urged political parties to take deliberate steps to support female aspirants, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities to contest and win elections.
According to her, political inclusion is not just a matter of fairness, but a crucial step toward national progress and sustainable development.
Also in her goodwill message to women, the first female mechanic in Nigeria, Mrs Sandra Aguebor urged them to acquire skills that would empower them and create wealth for themselves.
She noted that as a female mechanic, she had trained and empowered over 4,000 women nationwide, adding that the job had taken her to several countries.
