By Blessing Otobong-Gabriel
The Heinrich Boll Stiftung (hbs) has convened key stakeholders in Abuja for a dialogue on the persistent barriers affecting women’s leadership in Nigeria, calling for stronger collaboration and support among women.
Speaking at the event titled “The Glass Ceiling and Women’s Leadership in Nigeria: Realities and Reflections,” hbs Country Director Sophie Knebel noted that although Nigeria has produced outstanding women across sectors, overall representation in leadership — especially politics — remains low.
Knebel highlighted the pressures women face when pursuing leadership roles, including harsher scrutiny and self-doubt, and stressed the importance of women supporting and mentoring one another. “No woman breaks the glass ceiling alone,” she said, urging intentional solidarity.
Presenting findings from recent hbs-supported studies, Ere Amachree, Programme Manager, Rethinking Politics, revealed that in some cases, women themselves unintentionally reinforce barriers through lack of mentorship or gatekeeping behaviors. She added that leadership conflicts among market women in Oyo State also weaken collective advocacy.
Amachree emphasized that while structural barriers remain significant, the popular claim that “women do not support women” is often misleading. The new hbs survey aims to document real experiences, identify internal barriers, and propose culturally grounded solutions.
The dialogue ended with a call for stronger networks, honest reflection, and actionable strategies to help women step confidently into leadership roles.
