Political leaders, women advocates, and policymakers from across the Northeast gathered for a regional sensitisation programme supporting the Reserved Seats for Women Bill (HB 1349).
The occasion was held on Wednesday at the Government House Multipurpose Hall in Maiduguri.
The initiative, themed “North-East Women Rising: Advocating for Our Constitutional Space in Leadership”, is part of a nationwide push to strengthen women’s representation in governance.
Speaking on behalf of Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Deputy Governor Umar Usman Kadafur described the bill as a “transformative proposal capable of rewriting the story of political participation in Nigeria.”
He said the Northeast, having faced years of insurgency and social disruption, has witnessed women lead in rebuilding communities.
“It is only just and progressive that we now advocate for a constitutionally guaranteed space for women in legislative leadership,” he added.
Zulum urged lawmakers across the country to support the bill, noting that doing so would be “a vote for fairness, justice, and a more inclusive Nigeria.”
The Governor’s wife, Professor Falmata Babagana Umara Zulum, praised APC National Women Leader Dr Mary Alile Idele for mobilising national momentum behind the legislation.
She thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for championing policies that uplift women, noting that the Reserved Seats Bill “seeks not privilege, but fairness and equitable representation.”
Dr Idele urged women in the region to unite and intensify advocacy for their constitutional rights, calling the campaign a defining moment for gender inclusion.
The North-East Coordinator for Advocacy on Constitutional Space in Leadership, Hon. Halima Hayatu, appealed to lawmakers at both state and federal levels to ensure the bill’s passage, describing it as essential for correcting long-standing gender imbalances.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo commended Governor Zulum’s consistent support for women and applauded Hon. Hayatu’s advocacy across the six states of the region.
She also acknowledged the national impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Goodwill messages from Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir, Fatsuma Talba, Zainab Gimba, and Binta Masi reinforced the urgency of the bill and the need for collective backing.
The sensitisation programme ended with a renewed commitment from Northeast leaders and women stakeholders to champion the bill and advance gender-inclusive governance nationwide.
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