At an event held by the state Ministry of Women Affairs to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration, Maria Edeko, the deputy speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, called on the National and State Assemblies to support the passage of the bill to create special seats for women in elective positions.
She acknowledged the suffering that women endure in the community, particularly in the political circle, and added that the special seats would give women increased representation. She added that it would be a measure to create equality, as Rwanda has more than 60% of its government women.
“It is sad to see that we have a country where we have few women in elective positions and in the legislature, and they are also constantly suppressed.”
“We have a bill for a law in the National Assembly for the creation of special seats for women and we urge political leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and people of goodwill to support the bill.”
“The special seats would not infringe on the rights of anyone who aspires to any elective position,” Edeko said.
The deputy speaker urged political parties to take intentional steps to support female aspirants, ensuring that they have the resources and opportunities to contest and win elections. She explained that creating special seats for women would strengthen democracy by ensuring inclusive governance and diverse representation in decision-making.
She also emphasized that political inclusion is not just a matter of fairness, but a crucial step toward national progress and sustainable development. Finally, in her goodwill message to women, Mrs. Sandra Aguebor, Nigeria’s first female mechanic, urged them to acquire skills that would empower them and generate wealth for themselves.
Noting that as a female mechanic, she had trained and empowered over 4,000 women nationwide, adding that her job had taken her to several countries.
