By Newspot Nigeria Editorial Desk
As Nigeria joins the global community to celebrate 30 years since the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the HID Awolọwọ Foundation is set to convene a major national dialogue examining the state of women’s political participation in the country.
The event, announced in a statement signed by Ambassador Dr Ọlatokunbọ Awolọwọ Dosumu, Convener and Executive Director of the Foundation, is themed:
“Breaking Barriers or Standing Still? Nigerian Women in Politics 30 Years After Beijing.”
The dialogue will hold on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at Ẹfunyẹla Hall, Ikenne, Ogun State, beginning at 9 a.m. It also forms part of activities marking the 110th posthumous birthday of Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolọwọ, one of Nigeria’s most revered political matriarchs.
Honouring HID Awolọwọ’s Enduring Legacy
Established in 2016 by Ambassador Awolọwọ Dosumu, the HID Awolọwọ Foundation was created to preserve and advance the remarkable legacy of HID Awolọwọ (1915–2015) — a renowned businesswoman, political actor, and mother of modern progressive politics. HID’s resilience, grace, and strategic influence in Nigeria’s political evolution continue to inspire generations of women navigating leadership, family life, and public service.
This year’s dialogue seeks to confront the persistent challenges facing women in leadership three decades after Nigeria committed to the Beijing Platform for Action.
Despite decades of advocacy, Nigerian women remain significantly underrepresented in elective and appointive positions. Recent statistics reinforce the urgent need for stronger reforms, institutional support, and political will.
A Powerful Line-Up of Speakers and Thought Leaders
The event will bring together an impressive gathering of lawmakers, gender advocates, academics, and female leaders from across Nigeria and beyond.
- Senator Daisy Danjuma, former Senator and Executive Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum, will chair the dialogue.
- The keynote address will be delivered by Professor Ọlabisi Aina, a leading gender scholar, who will trace Nigeria’s journey from 1995 to 2025, highlighting both victories and stubborn gaps in representation.
The dialogue will feature contributions from:
- HE Dr Chantal Fanny – Vice-President of the Senate, Côte d’Ivoire
- Senator Uche Ekwunife – Politician, legislator, banker
- Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa – Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy
- Dr Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji – Founder, RISE Networks & RISE Interactive Studios
The concluding session on action planning and the way forward will be moderated by Hon. Abikẹ Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Goodwill messages are expected from invited State Governors, the Ogun State Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and UN Women, represented by Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women.
Seven Critical Sub-Themes to Shape the National Conversation
The Foundation announced that the dialogue will revolve around seven interconnected thematic areas:
- Historical and Policy Context – Beijing ’95 to Today: Tracking Nigeria’s Commitments and Compliance
- Representation and Reality – Numbers Don’t Lie: Why Are Nigerian Women Still Missing in Action?
- Barriers and Breakthroughs – The Glass Ceiling and the Iron Fence: Cultural and Structural Barriers to Women’s Leadership
- Lessons from Elsewhere – Why Have Other Nations Crossed the Threshold?
- Women in Power: Lived Experiences – In Her Own Words: Stories from Women Who Led – or Tried To
- Youth, Intersectionality, and the Future – Next Gen, New Lens: Young Women and the Future of Political Leadership
- Advocacy and Collective Action – Power in Numbers: The Role of Women’s Movements, Civil Society Organisations, and Alliances
The conversations will culminate in a policy-focused panel aimed at developing “a new agenda for Nigerian women in politics.”
Driving a New Era of Inclusion
According to the Foundation, the 2025 national dialogue is designed to “move beyond rhetoric toward actionable strategies” that deepen women’s inclusion, strengthen cross-generational collaboration, and align Nigeria’s efforts with global gender-equality commitments.
The event reaffirms the Foundation’s core mission to promote national development, peace, and well-being—principles that defined the life and legacy of HID Awolọwọ, one of the most influential women in Nigeria’s history.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to monitor updates from the HID Awolọwọ Foundation and provide ongoing coverage of the national dialogue and outcomes.
