The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, has called on women across Nigeria to become more actively involved in politics and decision-making processes in order to strengthen their representation in governance.
Mrs. Soludo, founder of the Healthy Living Initiative, made the call in a statement issued on Sunday in Awka to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day marked annually on March 8.
She emphasised the need for women to move from the sidelines to the centre of national conversations on gender equality and development, stressing that participation in leadership spaces was critical to shaping policies that affect women and society.
According to her, while numerous discussions and advocacy campaigns have taken place over the years to improve the welfare of women and girls, stronger commitment and concrete actions are required to achieve meaningful progress.
“Women must take the lead in shaping their future by participating actively in politics and occupying spaces where key decisions affecting society are made,” she said.
She also encouraged women with political ambitions to take bold steps toward leadership, assuring them that stakeholders who support gender inclusion in governance would provide the necessary backing.
Mrs. Soludo commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for proposing legislation that would reserve a mandatory number of seats for women in the National Assembly, describing the initiative as a significant step toward improving women’s political representation.
She added that similar provisions should be extended to State Houses of Assembly across the country to ensure broader participation of women in legislative processes.
The governor’s wife further stressed the importance of protecting women from harassment, abuse, sexual exploitation, workplace discrimination and other social injustices that hinder their advancement.
She noted that women have consistently demonstrated competence and professionalism when entrusted with leadership responsibilities.
Mrs. Soludo also highlighted efforts by the Anambra State Government to promote policies that support women and girls by creating competitive opportunities for women to advance within the state civil service.
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Through her pet project, the Healthy Living Initiative, she said efforts would continue to encourage women to adopt healthy lifestyles and participate in community-based programmes aimed at improving societal wellbeing.
She added that more platforms would be created to enable women across the state to collaborate, pursue common goals and strengthen their collective voice in national development.
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