Gender Imbalance in Nigerian Judiciary Raises Concerns

FIDA Nigeria, represented by Ifeoma Ejiofor and Vice President Eliana Martin, raised concerns about the persistent gender imbalance in the Nigerian judiciary during a dialogue in Awka. Despite notable milestones such as Aloma Mariam Mukhtar being the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria and Zainab Bulkachuwa as the first female President of the Court of Appeal, women still occupy only 31% of Supreme Court positions.

Martin highlighted that the judiciary's leadership roles remain predominantly male, with only four out of thirteen justices being women. The dialogue aimed to examine barriers to women's career progression in the judiciary, including entry, retention, and promotion opportunities.

Martin attributed the ongoing structural gender imbalance to long-standing socio-cultural biases and discriminatory workplace practices. The discussion sought to understand women's experiences and identify factors contributing to their low representation in leadership positions within the judiciary, emphasizing the need for institutional reforms to support women's advancement.