FIC Report (Benue State) – The League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) Benue Chapter, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Benue Chapter, has officially launched the Sit-in Parliament (SIP) and Governance Campaign. The event, which coincided with the 2025 International Women’s Day Celebration, took place on 27th March 2025 at the Federal Secretariat, Makurdi.
In her address, Mrs. Ruth Kpengwa, the State Chairperson of NILOWV, emphasized that the campaign seeks to support a proposed bill by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Benjamin Kalu, advocating for reserved seats for women in politics. She explained that the bill aims to create special seats exclusively for women in the Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly, in addition to the existing competitive seats. She encouraged women to rally behind the initiative, highlighting the challenges they face in competing for political positions under the current system.
Speaking at the event, the Principal Assistant to the Governor on Media Publicity and communication Strategy Bridget Tikyaa commended the organizers for initiating the Ward-to-Ward campaign to increase women’s participation in politics. She acknowledged the challenges women in Benue State have historically faced in political engagement but urged them to remain resilient. She also called on leaders and stakeholders to create an inclusive political environment that fosters women’s participation and leadership.
NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Elizabeth Achagh, expressed concern over the declining representation of women in politics and leadership at both state and national levels. She urged relevant authorities to implement policies that promote women’s political inclusion and assured that women journalists in Benue will continue to amplify the voices of women until they are heard.
Women activists from Lawyers Alert also lent their voices to the campaign. Honorable Chief Mrs. Apezan, a prominent Benue women stakeholder, encouraged women to step forward and contest for political positions. She asserted that Benue State has one of the most supportive environments for women in politics and emphasized that women must tell their own stories rather than leaving them to be told by men.
Signed
Bridget Tarker
For Head of Centre, Federal Information Centre,
Makurdi
