Can W’African Women Get Appreciable Political Power By 2035?

Women are estimated to make up half of West Africa's population, a fact that should logically translate to their presence in half of the decision-making positions. However, the reality on the ground paints a starkly different picture. In recent times, stakeholders gathered in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, to address this glaring disparity. Michael Olugbode, a reporter, covered the event and highlighted the significance of this gathering for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The meeting came just days after West African Heads of State adopted the Presidential Declaration on Strengthening the Representation of Women in Political Leadership in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This Abuja forum was seen by many as the genesis of a new political era, where women would cease to be mere spectators and instead actively shape the future of the region.

Historically, women have been the driving force behind West Africa's economies. They play a central role in cross-border trade, household sustenance, business building, community nurturing, and conflict mediation. Yet, when it comes to cabinet decisions, budget approvals, law enactments, and government formations, women's voices remain notably absent.

The Abuja forum aimed to tackle a question that has plagued West African democracies for generations: How can societies that rely heavily on women continue to exclude them from political power? The key speaker, ECOWAS Vice President, Damtien L. Tchintchibidja, emphasized that the meeting presented a rare opportunity for a regional organization to shape history.

She reminded the participants that ECOWAS leaders had just adopted the Presidential Declaration on Strengthening the Representation of Women in Political Leadership, which was conceived as an enduring legacy of ECOWAS’ 50th anniversary.

However, the current state of women's political representation remains concerning. According to the ECOWAS Commission, women hold only 15.5% of parliamentary seats in the region, which is considerably lower than Africa's average of 25% and the global average of 26.5%. Women make up more than half of the region's population and contribute significantly to every sector, but their exclusion from decision-making bodies is profound.

The organizers were clear that women's political inclusion is no longer just a matter of human rights. It is increasingly viewed as an economic necessity. The International Monetary Fund estimates that closing gender gaps could boost economic output by 10 to 35%. Similarly, the World Bank asserts that countries lose about 14% of their human capital when women are not fully involved in economic and public life.

This realization underscores that countries excluding women from leadership also exclude valuable ideas, innovation, experience, and talent that could drive development.

Nigeria, Africa's largest democracy, provided a relevant example of the challenge. Despite its political might, women occupy only a small fraction of elective positions. The Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, underscored that gender parity is not merely symbolic but an economic imperative. She acknowledged that achieving meaningful progress would require structural reforms, not just empty promises.