By Joy Inyamu Akut
When we speak about gender roles, it’s easy for the conversation to turn into a battle of superiority. But that has never been the point. Men and women are different, by design. Our bodies are built differently, so are our minds. And this isn’t a flaw; it’s a gift, because it keeps the universe balanced. It keeps us needing one another.
Men are not the same as women, and women are not the same as men. We were never created to compete, but to complete. What we seek is equity, a balance that allows both strengths to thrive side by side. The Reserved Seats Bill before the National Assembly isn’t asking for favors, but for fairness.
I often think of my mother when I speak about leadership and balance. She was one of only two women in the state cabinet and served as pioneer Commissioner for Women Affairs in Benue State. She also served as Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports, and for Commerce and Industries. She mothered the Lobi Stars players and still got the job done. I remember watching her come home exhausted, to oversee the running of the house, and the next morning, she was back at it. She was nurturing but firm, soft yet resolute. She didn’t need to imitate masculinity to command respect. Her empathy made her an exceptional leader. Through her, I saw strength in womanhood, a quiet power that governs with both heart and discipline.
This is the kind of leadership Nigeria needs. Women don’t lead better than men; they lead differently. And when both perspectives are intertwined, nations thrive.
The Reserved Seats Bill (HB 1349) is not charity. It’s a development strategy. It recognizes that when we make room for women, we invariably make room for progress. First sponsored by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha in the 9th Assembly, the Bill has now been refined and re-presented by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Say what you will about politicians, but Kalu has shown, through both word and example, that gender inclusion isn’t about tokenism but transformation.
His advisory team is a fine blend of men and women, with women almost tipping the balance. He has exceeded affirmative action in his space, not because of sentiments, but because of competence. He gives them room, and in return, they deliver excellence. That is the power of equity: when people are trusted, they deliver results, and they rise.
If passed, the Bill will add specific seats for women in the National Assembly and State Assemblies. This will not only increase female participation in governance but also inspire young girls to see leadership as attainable and not a distant dream reserved for others.
Right now, Nigeria is at the bottom of the ladder in female representation. Out of 469 seats in the 10th National Assembly, women occupy only 4 seats out of 109 in the Senate (2.7%) and 17 out of 360 in the House of Representatives (4.7%), a total of just 4.2%. This is one of the lowest rates in Africa. For comparison, Rwanda, a country that emerged from genocide just three decades ago, made an intentional decision to rebuild differently. They reserved seats for women in parliament, and today, women hold 63.8% of the seats in their lower chamber, the highest in the world. Since 2000, Rwanda’s GDP per capita has more than quadrupled, and the country is celebrated globally for its recovery and inclusive governance.
Closer home, Senegal’s parity law requires political parties to field equal numbers of men and women, leading to improved representation, more inclusive policymaking, and a cultural shift in how leadership is perceived. It’s that simple: when women take their rightful place, nations rise.
But let me be honest: what stands in the way of progress isn’t always capacity. It’s perception. And sometimes, it’s fear. Too many competent women have chosen silence because the system wasn’t built to make room for them.
The veil must be lifted from the eyes of those steeped in outdated traditions. If we trust women to raise families, the most vital unit of society, why can’t we trust them to help build a nation? The logic fails.
Even faith teaches us this truth. As a Christian, I see Jesus Christ as the greatest advocate for women’s inclusion. He trusted women to support His ministry, to be witnesses of His resurrection, and to carry the message of life. Likewise, the Sultan of Sokoto recently reaffirmed Islam’s historical respect for women’s leadership and contributions at the TOS Symposium, organized to commemorate the Day of the Girl Child. Both faiths meet at the same truth: women matter in God’s plan.
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote, the question before us isn’t just political; it is moral. Will our lawmakers choose reason and vision over fear and bias? If the 10th Assembly passes the Reserved Seats Bill, it will not just be about Benjamin Kalu; it will be a legacy for the 10th assembly. They will be remembered as the lawmakers who made a generational difference, those who looked beyond politics to posterity.
Or they won’t. And we’ll continue recycling old systems that exclude half our population while wondering why progress is so slow.
Nigeria has a choice. We can continue as we are, or we can chart a new path where every citizen, male and female, contributes fully to nation-building. Equity is not about replacing men; it’s about strengthening humanity. When women rise, nations flourish.
And perhaps, years from now, a young girl sitting beside her mother will watch the evening news and see more women on the legislative floor, contributing and making a difference. That will be the day Nigeria truly comes into balance.
* Ms Akut is Special Assistant on Women and Youth Development, to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.