Nobel Women's Initiative
Subscribe Donate
  • Home
  • Who We Are

    Since 2006 we have worked in solidarity with women's movements, organizations, and activists around the world to build peace, defend justice, and champion equality for all.
    • The Laureates

      • Rigoberta Menchú Tum
      • Jody Williams
      • Shirin Ebadi
      • Leymah Gbowee
      • Tawakkol Karman
    • The Board

      • Profiles
    • Supporters

      • Individual and institutional donors
    • Staff

      • Profiles
  • What We Do

    Nobel Women's Initiative delivers programs, events, training, mentorship, advocacy and campaigns.
    • Areas of Work

      • Shifting the Narrative
      • Leading Peace Together
      • Influencing Change
    • Events

      • Conferences & Meetings
    • News & Information

      • Media Releases & Statements
      • Annual & Thematic Reports
      • Blog
  • Our Approach

    This is why and how we work to increase the visibility of women striving for peace, justice and equality.
    • About Us

      • Vision, Mission, Feminist Principles
      • Highlights of our Work
      • History & Background
    • What's Our Approach?

      • Transition and Renewal
  • Get Involved

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on opportunities to join us in our work.
      • Donate
    • Work With Us

      • Jobs
Subscribe Donate
  1. Media Releases & Statements
  2. Nigerian Election Will Impact Gender Equality and Peace

Nigerian Election Will Impact Gender Equality and Peace

This Saturday, 25 February 2023, Nigerians head to the polls to elect a new president, Senate, and House of Representatives. The course of this election in Africa’s most populous nation, in a year when sixteen other states across the continent will also head to the polls, has crucial implications for peace, gender equality and, in turn, societies as a whole. 

Posted on February 24, 2023
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Of the 18 candidates running for the country’s top political seat this year, there was only one woman – Chichi Ojei.The party that nominated her withdrew their support a week, ago though it looks like she remained on the ballot. She was replaced by a male candidate. Only one woman is represented in the race for governorship as well. In fact, since Nigeria regained independence, only one woman has ever occupied a top political position in the country – back in 2007. Moreover, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female representation in politics in the world, with only 4% elected in the last election. Women face overwhelming barriers to political participation, including deeply engrained patriarchal structures, inability to access funding and the high cost of nominations and political campaigns, hate speech against female candidates, as well as high rates of gender related electoral violence and threats.   

Nigeria continues to be marred by internal conflict, and violence, including high rates of gender-based violence, across the country. That violence affects people's, especially women's, ability to participate in the elections safely. And the outcome of the election will have direct impact on the conflicts. 

Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2011 from Liberia, comments: “These Elections are very crucial to peace and development in Nigeria, it is very important that Nigerian women exercise their right to vote and also serve as vigilant guard over the peace of the land. Peaceful elections in Nigeria are essential for regional peace and security.” 

Joy Onyesoh, from the Women's Situation Room which works to ensure peaceful elections and participation of women in elections in Nigeria, comments: “We need to take concrete steps to improve and increase women’s participation in elections and representation in politics. The media have to ensure equal exposure and fair representation of women as candidates, voters and election officials. Local authorities have to take threats, hate speech and violence against women seriously, and ensure safety and proper investigation so that we can take part in elections as voters, candidates and as election officials”

With 16 other elections across Africa coming up this year, global media can also play a role in facilitating women’s participation and inclusion by elevating the voices of women on the ground, drawing attention to the challenges women face in running for office, and the benefits of broader diversity in political processes.    

More information: 

  • Women’s Situation Room Nigeria 
  • Interview-Her 

 

Media contact: 

Daina Ruduša 

Head of Media and Communications 

Nobel Women’s Initiative 

[email protected] 

+371 25585212 (EEST timezone) 

Media Releases & Statements

March 6, 2023

Dr Shirin Ebadi's Open Letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

January 18, 2023

Nobel Women’s Initiative Welcomes Maria Ressa’s Acquittal and Urges Action to Address Information Crisis

November 4, 2022

Dr Shirin Ebadi Addresses UN Security Council

October 7, 2022

Nobel Women’s Initiative laureates congratulate 2022 Peace Prize winners calling for peace with justice

September 28, 2022

An Open Letter to the People of Iran

September 19, 2022

Peace laureates appalled and saddened by the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran

September 7, 2022

Oh, Sister!: A documentary about Ukrainian Women's daily struggle for peace

July 7, 2022

Statement: Collective warning from Iranian social and political activists

June 23, 2022

Women of Ukraine demand peace. Peace with justice. Peace with Freedom.

Recent Media Coverage

Recognizing the Role of Women in Fighting for Peace in Ukraine. Women's Enews. 23 February 2023. 

How Ukrainian Women Are Working to Safeguard Human Rights in the Face of War. Ms Magazine. 23 February 2023. 

Jody Williams: "Se están usando minas terrestres en la invasión de Ucrania". El Espanol. 8 February 2023. 

Nobel laureate Ebadi says Iran's 'revolutionary process' is irreversible. Reuters. 3 February 2023.

Minelegging truer sivile i Ukraina. Klassekampen. 25 January 2023. 

“Oh, Sister!” — life of Women of Ukraine amidst the war. The Odessa Journal. 29 December 2022.

‘Bravery has no gender’: Nobel prize winner praises role of women in Ukraine conflict. The Irish Times. 16 December 2022.

Für Ukraine alles geben, was möglich ist. Berliner Zeitung, 16 December 2022. 

Shirin Ebadi on the legal obstacles Iran’s protesters face. Economist, 16 November 2022

Will Russia use tactical nukes? It’s time to abolish nuclear weapons.* Houston Chronicle, 6 November 2022

How Women Respond to War: An Interview With Three Nobel Laureates. Women's Media Center, 4 November 2022

U.S/ Seeks Removal of Iran From U.N. Women's Rights Agency. New York Times, 2 November 2022

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Spotlight the Brave, Visionary Women of Ukraine And Launch 'Women Lead' Campaign. Forbes, 28 October 2022

“They Want a Democracy”: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi on Protests, Regime’s Future. Democracy Now, 20 October 2022

'Iran will be democratic one day': Shirin Ebadi. DW, 23 October 2022

Shirin Ebadi: Women will open the gate to democracy in Iran. CNN, 7 October 2022

*Behind a paywall

Nobel Women's Initiative

Contact Information

General Inquiries
Email:
Address:
261 Montreal Rd, Suite 310
Ottawa, ON K1L 8C7
Media Inquiries
Daina Ruduša
Email:

Join Us

  • Subscribe
  • Donate

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Subscribe


© 2022 Nobel Women's Initiative

Sign in to control panel Created with NationBuilder Built by Progressive Nation
Loading…