Gender advocate and freelance journalist from Borno State, Rukaiyatu Idris, has called for equal representation of women and men in governance, saying women’s participation in political leadership should be on a 50-50 basis.
Idris said women constitute a significant percentage of Nigeria’s population and deserve greater inclusion in decision-making processes that shape policies and development programmes.
She made the call while appearing as a guest on S24 Insight in Abuja, where she discussed the importance of women’s involvement in governance and policy formulation.
According to her, increased participation of women in leadership positions would bring diverse perspectives and improve the quality of policies designed to address social challenges.
She cited examples from Maiduguri, Borno State, particularly during the 2023 elections, noting that women’s involvement in community leadership helped create opportunities for female representation in local decision-making structures.
Idris urged girls and women to increase their efforts in education, leadership development, and civic engagement, stressing that greater female participation could transform society.
She also appealed to journalists to maintain professionalism and responsibility when reporting issues affecting women, saying accurate and balanced coverage would help amplify gender advocacy efforts.
Idris is the Gender Coordinator at Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support, where she is involved in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and programme management.
Her journalism focuses on gender, education, conflict, and accountability issues, particularly in communities affected by insecurity in northeastern Nigeria.
She was recognised as the winner of the 2024 “Best Inclusive Story” category of the Alfred Opubor NextGen Awards organised by the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development.
