Beatrice Eyong gender equality governance Nigeria push as UN Women official calls for 50-50 representation in politics and leadership

The United Nations Women Country Representative for Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Beatrice Eyong, has called for urgent reforms to ensure gender equality in governance, insisting that women should occupy at least half of all parliamentary seats.

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Beatrice Eyong made the remarks during an interview with Chikas Kumle, Executive Director of the Women Development Monitoring Initiative, on a programme themed “Representation: The Urgency of Now”, where she stressed the need for stronger female participation in decision-making structures across Africa.

Beatrice Eyong advocates gender equality in Nigeria’s governance system call comes amid renewed debates on political inclusion and the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions across the continent.

Eyong argued that women, who constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population, should not be marginalised in political and economic systems, describing the current level of representation as inadequate and inconsistent with democratic principles.

She further stated that governance structures should reflect parity across all levels, including national assemblies, state institutions and the private sector, emphasising that inclusive representation must also extend to women with disabilities, widows and other vulnerable groups.

In a firm and passionate appeal, Eyong warned that excluding sections of society from governance and development could fuel long term instability and social unrest.

She added that democracy across Africa risks losing credibility if it fails to deliver tangible benefits to citizens, noting that growing disillusionment among young people and women must be urgently addressed.

Eyong also highlighted that meaningful participation of women in leadership would significantly improve governance outcomes, strengthen accountability and accelerate development across societies.

She maintained that inclusive decision-making leads to better policies that reflect the lived realities of citizens, stressing that women bring critical perspectives shaped by social and economic responsibilities.

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The UN official’s comments add to ongoing global conversations about gender parity in politics, as advocacy groups continue to push for structural reforms aimed at achieving balanced representation.