First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday evening hosted members of the National Assembly to a special dinner at the State House Banquet Hall, where she made a renewed and passionate appeal for the passage of the Gender Parity Bill, also known as the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, currently before the legislature.
The event, attended by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas; Vice President Kashim Shettima; Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who represented the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF); lawmakers from both chambers; and senior government officials, provided what the First Lady described as “a moment for dialogue and reflection” on Nigeria’s democratic future and the centrality of women’s participation.
In her address, Senator Tinubu said the bill, seeking constitutionally guaranteed seats for women in federal and state legislatures, offered a historic opportunity for Nigeria to reposition its democracy and strengthen national development.
“I have watched with keenness in recent months as various interest groups across our beloved nation, and even international bodies, have gathered momentum in support of this particular bill.
“Is this bill indeed possible to scale through? Yes—if not today, someday. But if we do this now, the 10th Assembly will go down in the history of our legislature as the set that stood for women when it counted the most,” she said.
The First Lady urged lawmakers to seize the moment to “take care of our girls and boys,” noting that the current challenges facing millions of children, especially the girl child and vulnerable boys in the Almajiri system, underscore the need for inclusive reforms.
“In the past few days, our nation has faced a lot of assault, especially as it concerns the future of the education of the girl child. The boys, on the other hand, through the Almajiri system, are deprived of basic necessities…
“This deprivation opens them up to be lured into the wrong hands. This is why we must prioritise reforms that restore dignity and provide safe learning environments,” she stated.
Senator Tinubu stressed that affirmative measures have improved governance quality in several countries, adding that Nigeria must not be left behind.
“Everyone, male or female, should be given the opportunity to contribute to our shared humanity,” she said.
