ECOWAS Ministers Advocate for Women's Political Reforms

On Friday, during the West Africa Women’s Political Leadership Forum in Abuja, ministers from ECOWAS member states advocated for significant electoral reforms to boost women’s political participation across West Africa. Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated that the forum aimed to convert longstanding commitments into actionable measures.

She highlighted the Abuja Action Agenda, which focuses on sustainable financing for women in politics, eliminating violence against women, and ensuring young women’s inclusion. Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that Nigeria's ongoing reforms align with these objectives, including a comprehensive review of the proposed reserved seats bill to enhance inclusivity in the political system.

Mme Damtien Tchintchibidja, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, stressed the importance of transforming the recently adopted ECOWAS declaration into concrete reforms rather than allowing it to become a forgotten document. The forum also aimed to foster cross-party solidarity among women leaders across Africa.