Sola POPOOLA
The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the 10th National Assembly is committed to breaking the barriers limiting women’s participation in governance through a proposed constitutional amendment seeking special seats for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the proposed legislation was designed to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s political institutions and ensure their adequate participation in decisions affecting the country.
The Senate Leader spoke on Monday as a guest speaker at the 2026 Law Week of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ekiti State Chapter, held in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, with the theme, “Justice in a Changing World: Responding to New Challenges Affecting Women and Children.”
The event was attended by dignitaries including the Chief Justice of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, who led other judges, politicians, lawyers, and traditional rulers, among others.
He said the proposed constitutional alteration would create 37 additional seats in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives, with one seat reserved for women in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside three additional seats in each State House of Assembly.
The Senate Leader therefore urged FIDA to deepen its engagement with the National Assembly and other relevant institutions, particularly in identifying gaps in existing laws, proposing reforms and ensuring that government policies and budgetary provisions translated into tangible benefits for vulnerable Nigerians.
He also challenged the organisation to hold the legislature accountable for the implementation of its commitments, especially the proposed special seats for women and adequate funding for child protection, women’s healthcare and gender empowerment programmes.
According to him, the arrangement, which would not displace existing legislative seats, is proposed to run for 16 years, covering four electoral cycles, after which its impact would be reviewed.
Bamidele noted that women constitute nearly half of Nigeria’s population but remain grossly underrepresented in elective and appointive positions, adding that deliberate legislative intervention was needed to correct the imbalance.
He assured that the 10th Assembly under the leadership of Senate President Godswill Akpabio would give the bill the required legislative attention to promote inclusive governance.
“The law is only as good as its implementation. Hold us accountable. Demand that the Special Seats Bill becomes law. Demand that appropriations for child protection and women’s health are not just passed, but released and utilised,” he said.
Bamidele said the ultimate objective should be to build a Nigeria where women could live free from violence and discrimination, children could grow in safety and dignity, and no victim would be denied justice because of poverty, social status, disability or geographical location.
He urged participants at the law week to develop practical recommendations that would strengthen legal protection and improve access to justice for women and children in Ekiti State and across the country.
In her keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Professor Smaranda Olarinde, called for stronger legal and institutional frameworks to protect women and children against emerging forms of abuse, particularly those enabled by technology and economic vulnerabilities.
Olarinde said the growing use of artificial intelligence and digital platforms had created new dimensions of threats, including cyberstalking, online harassment, deepfake images, impersonation and exploitation of children.
Speaking on the theme, she also called for stronger collaboration among government, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, universities, religious and traditional leaders, the media and civil society organisations to tackle gender-based violence and child abuse.
Olarinde urged FIDA to move beyond advocacy to measurable outcomes, proposing a collaborative Women and Children Access to Justice Action Framework to improve legal protection, digital safety and support for survivors.
On his part, the Chief Judge of Ekiti, Justice Ogunmoye lauded the efforts of FIDA in choosing the senate leader to deliver the lecture, describing him as a perfect person to speak on the emerging issues towards initiating legislative and policy reforms in protection of women and the children.
In her welcome address, the chairperson of FIDA Ekiti State chapter, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards who lauded Senator Bamidele for his well delivered lecture and other guests, said FIDA would remain committed to promoting, protecting and preserving the rights of women and children.
” The changing realities of our world continue to present new and complex concerns for the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of women and children, demanding fresh perspectives and more effective responses from all stakeholders. We must continually strengthen our laws, institutions, and collective response to ensure that justice remains accessible, effective, and responsive to their needs,” she said.