10/03/2026
WOMEN MUST BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION, THE LEADERSHIP AND THE FUTURE
The future of Nigeria cannot be built by excluding half of its population.
From Nigeria to the diaspora, women have a vital role to play in shaping communities, strengthening institutions, influencing policy and contributing to national development. This is why womenโs inclusion must remain an important part of the conversation within the OK Movement.
Nigeria still has a significant gap in womenโs political representation. UN Women reports that women held only about 3.9% of seats in Nigeriaโs national parliament as of February 2024, while more recent UN Women reporting puts representation at approximately 3.8% in the national parliament and 4.1% in state legislative assemblies.
This is not simply a question of numbers. It is about whose experiences, ideas and priorities are represented when decisions are being made.
WOMEN IN NIGERIA AND THE DIASPORA
Women in the diaspora have knowledge, professional experience, networks and resources that can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria's development. Their participation can extend beyond supporting initiatives financially. They can contribute through policy conversations, civic education, mentorship, advocacy, entrepreneurship, technology, community development and leadership.
Within the OK Movement, creating meaningful opportunities for women to participate, organize and lead can help strengthen the movement's engagement with communities both in Nigeria and abroad.
AND WE MUST START WITH THE GIRL CHILD
We cannot wait until a girl becomes a woman before we begin talking about leadership.
Leadership development starts early.
A girl should be encouraged to learn, ask questions, develop confidence, acquire skills, understand her rights and responsibilities, and believe that leadership is also within her reach.
Education is central to that process. UNICEF reports that approximately 10.5 million Nigerian children aged 5โ14 are out of school, with girls facing particularly serious educational barriers in parts of northern Nigeria.
Educating a girl is therefore not merely about preparing her for employment. It can equip her with knowledge, confidence, communication skills and the ability to participate meaningfully in society.
We should be grooming girls to become:
Educated women.
Skilled professionals.
Entrepreneurs.
Community builders.
Policy thinkers.
Civic leaders.
And responsible decision-makers.
WOMEN SHOULD NOT ONLY BE INVITED TO SUPPORT LEADERSHIP โ THEY SHOULD ALSO BE PREPARED TO LEAD.
The goal should be to create an environment where women and girls have opportunities to learn, participate, compete, contribute and lead based on their abilities and commitment.
For the OK Movement, this means making womenโs participation meaningful โ from the grassroots to the diaspora, from community engagement to leadership and from today's conversations to tomorrow's decisions.
When we educate a girl, we prepare an individual.
When we empower a woman, we strengthen a family and community.
When we create room for women to lead, we broaden the pool of ideas and experience available to society.
The Nigeria we want to build needs women at the table, girls in the classroom, young women in leadership pipelines, and a diaspora that remains connected to national development.
OK Movement โ building a culture of participation, inclusion and responsible leadership.
