Today hard truth: You cannot fly with one wing. Nigeria is flying with one wing.
Data:
- Women are 50% of Nigeria but only 4.5% of National Assembly, 21 women out of 469 seats (10th Assembly now 4.2% with 20 women), one of the lowest in Africa. Compare: Rwanda 61.3%, Senegal 44%, South Africa 46%, Namibia 44.2%.
- 95% of land titles in men’s name, yet 70% of smallholder farmers are women, confirmed by FAO and UN Women 2026. Market women feed us.
- Girl-child out of school: In North-East, over 60% of girls not completing secondary school, girls in rural areas twice as likely to be out of school as boys (Minister of Women Affairs, 2025).
- Inclusion not only gender: 35 million Nigerians live with disability — estimate by Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) 2025 using WHO 15% global benchmark — no ramp, no braille, no sign language, no job. Less than 2% have access to education.
Why this matters for Better Nigeria:
When woman rises, Nigeria rises, evidence: If women farmers get same inputs as men, Nigeria’s food production rises by 20-30% (FAO). If we close gap in work, GDP can grow by $229bn by 2030, figure from McKinsey Global Institute, cited by Hon. Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim at Gender & Inclusion Summit 2025. World Bank adds: closing gaps in agriculture and work can add $22.9bn annually.
Better Nigeria needs:
- Land, loan, market for women: Special window for women farmers, traders, tech girls, low interest, no collateral big grammar. Women own 43% of MSMEs but only 9% access formal credit.
- Girl child in school: Keep her in school till at least SS3, safe school, no early marriage, scholarship. One girl in school saves next generation.
- Seats at the table: In every LGA, State EXCO, Board, minimum 35% women, youth, persons with disability as per National Gender Policy. Not token, real power. Support Special Seats Bill — 37 extra seats for women.
- Access: Every new school, hospital, market must have ramp, accessible toilet, sign language teacher. Enforce 5% employment quota under Disability Act 2018, grace period ended Jan 2024.
You that say woman place is in the kitchen, ask: who is in your market every morning 5am? Who pays school fees when father loses job? Who carries Nigeria on the head?
Your task today: Support one woman today, buy from a market woman without pricing too much, pay a girl’s JAMB form, recommend a qualified woman for a job, speak for inclusion in your meeting.
