Kaduna came alive as Governor Uba Sani flagged off the North-West advocacy campaign for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, turning Umaru Yar’Adua Hall at Murtala Square into a lively carnival of ideas, colours, and energy.
The event brought together lawmakers, civil society leaders, women’s groups, youth advocates, and traditional leaders from across the region, all determined to tackle one of Nigeria’s most persistent democratic gaps: the under-representation of women in legislative power.
From the Governor’s arrival, the hall buzzed with excitement. Banners called for inclusion, chants supported women in leadership, and delegates hailed Kaduna for leading at a crucial national moment. At the centre of it all, Governor Uba Sani set a reformist tone, making clear that women’s participation in politics is not charity—it is justice.
Addressing the crowd, the Governor said women’s participation in governance “is not a concession, but a democratic imperative,” a statement met with prolonged applause. He reminded attendees that women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population and are among the most active voters, yet continue to be excluded from legislative and decision-making spaces by long-standing structural, cultural, and economic barriers. For a democracy seeking renewal, he said, this must change.
Drawing from years of public service, Uba Sani argued that societies thrive when women are empowered, institutions gain credibility when leadership reflects the people, and development becomes more sustainable when decisions are inclusive. While gender inclusion has long appeared in policy statements, he said the Reserved Seats for Women Bill offers the first real solution—creating extra legislative seats for women without removing existing representatives, as a temporary but necessary corrective.
Kaduna, the Governor said, is leading by example. With a female Deputy Governor, a female Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, an elected woman legislator, a female Local Government Chairman, and women holding senior positions across government, the state is a living model of inclusive leadership in Northern Nigeria.
“These realities send a simple message,” Uba Sani added: “When opportunity is fair, women lead with distinction.”
Participants described the campaign launch as both symbolic and strategic. By choosing Kaduna as the starting point for the North-West, the Governor has shifted the debate from whether women deserve reserved seats to how quickly Nigeria can ensure fair representation. Women leaders praised him for turning advocacy into action, while civil society groups called the event a landmark step for constitutional reform.
As the event closed, the hall remained alive with songs, solidarity messages, and renewed commitments to carry the advocacy into communities, assemblies, and political parties across the region. For many, the day marked more than a campaign launch—it was a turning point.
With Kaduna setting the pace and Governor Uba Sani leading boldly, the push to end women’s under-representation has gained a strong engine, turning inclusion from aspiration into a national goal.
