women-politicians-in-nigeria

"I'll just go about and just give you a brief background of my guest today:"

"Hello welcome to One-on-One. My name is Cyril Stobber. My guest today, is educated at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the University of Leeds at the United Kingdom. She holds a Barchelors Degree in Business Administration and Masters Degree in Development Studies. Her career actually started at the private sector, but over the years, she has stints in the public sector.."

"We also encourage for citizen engagement. There is particular category of assessment deliverables; is about having citizens engagement, be it a town-hall, a meeting, civil society engagement, it could be a twitter space engagement virtually. But that citizen engagement is important because the president is keen for citizens to be aware of what his ministries are doing"

"It is an honor indeed to be given an award for the Woman of the Year. Woman of the Year is a very powerful recognition. I remember five years ago, the Democracy Year Award gave me the award for the Best First Lady of the Year, this was whole five years ago and I had a bit of relationship with the award for quiet a long time and it is good to see that it is growing bigger and stronger. So this, uhmm yeah, being named the Woman of the Year is really very heart warming because it resonates and shows me that people are noticing what we are doing. People are watching and listening. I love the fact that it is a voting sort of award. The ceremony is not just nominations. The people actually voted. I want to really thank those out there that took the time to vote for me to become "Woman of the Year 2025". This obviously, you know, as you asked, is a powerful testimony at what we have being doing and it will continue to spur me on to do even more..."

"Oh yes, yes. Anything in terms of global policies we start with baby steps. So, there is phase implementation for everything. There's a strong advocacing for women inclusion because actually, women are important. They represent the.. I won't say they are the same, but they are under-represented. And so, there is a strong push for women inclusivity and we will see that happen."

"..Because we notice that some girls did not go to school five days in a month, we have being working as first ladies with partners to be able to get sanitary pads for this girls, so that they don't miss school. But now we are so happy with the support of the First Lady of Nigeria we've being able to reach more people. So being a humanitarian I will say is in my blood, and I'm very very happy to continue to do it."

"For me, even if we don't have a lot of women in the panels, what we are sure of and what we can take over is that we have more women traders who actually trade although we need more representation of female voices on the table but then they can tell their stories, they can speak up there perspectives as women on how their policies and the regulations and complains affect the women from their own perspectives. So I say this is what we are clamoring for. In Nigeria we started developing the shift rate, women in trainings initiatives to support more women, to support our inclusiveness. These are some of the things that we should be looking at to adopt in these kind of conferences. We have to make that effort to reach out to more women. We have them coming with the spirit."

"I want to thank you mah and all your executives for putting up this not only for civil women, but for all Nigerian women.."

"Just like Mrs Okoracha has said we have no other country apart from Nigeria, we are from here, and this is where we will stay and to the end of our lives, till the day God calls us home. So all we need to do is to do is to come together, that is why we have always being appreciating sisterhood platform. I love that sisterhood platform so much. It helps bring all the women of Nigeria together and that is exactly what our mother if doing today. So please lets come together. We have a lot, and lot, and lot to pick from what people have said; and we need to even go back to the drawing board to sit dowm=n and make sure all this things come to be. We shouldn't just do the talk and without doing the talk. We shouldn't leave what we have heard today, what we have being told; a lot of people have spoken and just leave it at that door and walk out. Please let's put it into action. Let's implement. let's do it together and we will all succeed. Thank you very much and God bless."

"“we are not adequately represented in government and that is why we keep pushing and advocating for more inclusion of women in governance. “I believe with this push, more women in the next dispensation would occupy more public offices.”"

"And I know, a lot has being said already, so many people have said everything that we needed to hear and what we need to do as women because what I'm taking back home from here is that all the women, all of us must come together, no matter where you are from, no matter your party, no matter what, all of us must come together. If we don't come together, nothing will change. And if we can do it together a lot of things will fall in line. And if women are in position of authority, we will make laws that will suit us and a lot of things will fall in places for all of us to enjoy.."

"Governor Kefas described the late Lami as a “golden export” from Taraba to the rest of the world and lauded her significant contributions to women’s causes, noting that her work stood tall in the history of gender activism."

"Things may not go exactly as we wish but even then, we have a responsibility to step out with hope, doing our best each day to pursue the outcomes we seek for ourselves and our loved ones. Hope must override despair and nothing should distract us from giving our all to achieve the goals that we have carefully laid out in the weeks and days leading to this remarkable day. I do not possess the power to predict the future but I know one thing for sure: victory ultimately goes to the one who never gave up."

"My words are written with a sense of responsibility for the prosperity and protection of the nation. If some willingly try and misunderstand my words below, so be it, as the matter is too important and above individual vanities."

"We strive valiantly but again and again, we come short, not because we so desire but because it is the nature of human endeavours. Our modest success in the last one year has come from waking up with new enthusiasm each morning, believing that we shall achieve better outcomes in the new day, having learnt from the mistakes of yesterday."

"I appeal to the government to put an end to this shooting of protesters by security agents. We need to exercise great patience, restraint and compassion in handling the demands of these youth."

"The present and future of Abia depend on the quality of education we provide for our children. We will intentionally prepare our citizens to be skilled participants in the global village, where science, technology, and mathematics are used as productive tools for work and play."

"A teacher that does not eat, there is nothing he wants to teach. Even if you force him to go to class, there is nothing he can teach the students. You can’t work on an empty stomach."

"Marriage is another school where you can never graduate but with patience, prayer, endurance and cooperation of my husband, I am where I am today."

"Despite the criticisms that may have trailed her life, one cannot look away from the fact that Maryam Babangida was not regular. She was the first woman to turn the First Lady seat from ceremonial to active and important."

"She actively championed the problems facing women. She reached out to other African countries’ First Ladies to stress the important role that they can play in improving their people’s lives."

"Young military officers often had short-lived liaisons, myself included. Despite this, I was fond of Maria, and she grew fond of me. Our relationship felt predestined. At NMTC, I became more aware of her."

"Her attitude and disposition as the country’s First Lady distinguished her as a woman of unusual morality and personal ethics among the country’s First Ladies."

"The spark within her soul shines brilliantly today as it did in her youth. It was the lure that ensnared and kept on the leash of love that has blossomed and glowed between her and elder statesman Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar. Spurred by innate zeal and resolve, Justice Abubakar found the wherewithal to turn her gaze finally outward even as she summoned strength from within to achieve her dreams."

"In my numerous encounters with her either in their home or her office in Minna, she comes across as a serious – minded, highly principled, disciplined and firm woman."

"Even while her husband was Head of State, she was so committed and dedicated to her job as a lawyer that she never left the legal profession. This is very impressive as some other women see the ‘First Ladyship’ as a role of glamour and wanton frivolities."

"Maryam Babangida was a phenomenal woman whose impact was felt in Dodan Barracks in Lagos after her husband moved in as head of state in 1985."

"She had to schedule extensive renovations to make the rooms more suited for formal receptions."

"She had considerable impact in collaborating with the National Council for Women’s Societies (NCWS), helping to win support for initiatives such as the controversial SFEM (Special Foreign Exchange Market) initiative to cut subsidies and to devalue and repair the currency."

"“She was like a Roman empress on a throne, regal and resplendent in a stone-studded flowing outfit that defied description…” Women responded to her as a role model, and her appeal lasted long after her husband fell from power."

"provided clear leadership in this period of general confusion following the annulment of the election. She stepped forward with the conviction that the military’s action amounted to violation of fundamental rights of Nigerians to elect their government."

"In the summer of 1994, Kudirat was actively involved in moving and sustaining the oil workers 12 week strike action against the military government. The strike which succeeded in isolating and weakening the government, was the longest in Africa history by oil workers."

"Her interests included gardening, interior design, music, squash, badminton, bird-gathering, philanthropic activities and reading."

"“Maryam wanted to be more than a housewife; she recognized the importance of the home front in our mutual success. Throughout my career, she stood beside me."

"Kudirat believed strongly in supporting women’s economic empowerment."

"By virtue of her professional and academic achievements, Fati Abubakar, is unarguably the most erudite of all of Nigeria’s First Ladies. Yet, Hajia Fati, as she is popularly called, remains the most humble of all the country’s First Ladies and her humility taught her how to avoid the arrogance of power."

"There is no limit to her bid to foster the rule of law and societal stability. She adjudicates and resolves the most troubling legal quagmires even as she jumps in the trenches to lay the bricks for the homeless’ shelter."

"Her fight was essentially for the release of her husband and restoration of his mandate which was annulled by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida in 1993. Abiola was detained soon after the June 12 election."

"My vision of this nation is an enlightened, prosperous and peaceful country."

"In pursuit of her dreams, she had to juggle wedlock, motherhood, the justice system, helping the needy and the world’s disadvantaged."

"“Observers may find it surprising that a focused woman could also be a devoted wife and mother. For me, her commitment to our family and country was the foundation of her success.”"

"I admired her clarity of mind in knowing the extraordinary demands on senior military officers at that time."

"Her participation inspired new level of activism in Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement. Alhaja Kudirat mobilised market women, students, activists and other human rights community to fight for the struggle of democracy."

"Celebrate women around the world, promote gender quality as well as eliminate gender stereotype."

"Marrying your friend will encourage you and support you in whatever you do."

"We must foster cooperation and mutual respect, ensuring our legislative actions align with the executive’s vision."

"Gender parity is a statistical measure that compares women and men through their income, education, and work hours among other points. It is also an important tool for policymakers striving towards gender equality."

"We have discovered that some women are scared because of the muddy water of politics."

"Where are our women? So, we must be consistent. Politics is a profession like any other profession."

"We need people to know what we are doing, so that we continue to get their support. We welcome ideas on how to even do it better than what we are doing. We are very lucky to have a leader that is young, dynamic, committed, and focused-it has really helped our government. The people of Lagos, they are very happy. As I said, they have not made a mistake in choosing him as a governor to lead-they have not made a mistake in choosing all of us to work with him, as well."