Oluwatoyin Madein women in politics speech urges stronger female participation, stressing Nigeria’s need for women’s leadership in nation-building

Speaking at the Ogun East Conference for Women in Sagamu, Madein, Nigeria’s first female Accountant General, described women as brilliant, resourceful, resilient and courageous, stressing that they possess the full capacity to provide effective leadership for the country’s progress.

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She noted that women account for more than 62 per cent of Nigeria’s population, yet fewer than 35 per cent participate in politics, a figure that falls short of the United Nations’ affirmative action benchmark.

“Despite this gap, I must sincerely praise Nigerian women for making remarkable progress in other areas such as academics, education, career development, the public sector, and small and medium enterprises,” she said.

Madein commended the women currently in politics for representing the nation well but urged greater inclusivity to harness women’s roles in nation-building.

“We certainly need more women to step into politics and leadership positions at all levels to build a more prosperous nation,” she added.

She also paid tribute to Ogun trailblazers such as Ambassador Falilat Ogunkoya and highlighted her own journey as the first female Accountant General of the Federation as examples of how Ogun women have broken barriers.

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Her remarks have drawn attention to the ongoing debate about women’s political inclusion, with stakeholders calling for structural reforms that would allow more women to play active roles in governance.