October 12, 2025
APC

A prominent figure in Oyo State’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farmer Omolara Kafilat Busari, has raised concern over the ongoing marginalization of women in the state’s political leadership, describing the situation as both “discouraging” and “unacceptable.”

Busari, who is also the founder of the **Women in Politics Sensitization Initiative, made the remarks during the fourth edition of the organization’s political engagement programme held over the weekend in Old Bodija, Ibadan.

Speaking to participants mostly professional and elite women — she lamented that Oyo remains the only state in the South-West yet to produce a female deputy governor since the return of democratic rule in 1999.

“This state has seen only one female senator in its democratic history Senator Monsurat Sunmonu and currently has just one woman in the House of Representatives. That is not a record to be proud of,” she said.

Unlike previous editions which focused on rural women and grassroots sensitization, this year’s event deliberately targeted women from professional and educated backgrounds.

“We’ve done a lot of mobilization at the grassroots level. Now we’re calling on elite women to come forward, use their voice, and take up space where it matters,” Busari explained.

She encouraged women across the state to become active participants in political parties, attend local meetings, and contribute meaningfully to governance. According to her, women’s underrepresentation in politics directly affects how their interests are reflected in policy and legislation.

“Politics in itself is not dirty. It’s the people and the culture within it that need to change and that change must include more women,” she said.

Busari also voiced support for legislative efforts to reserve seats for women in the National Assembly, describing the bill as a potential turning point for female political empowerment in Nigeria.

Other speakers at the event echoed similar views.

Public servant Dr. Kayode Ojooko stressed the need for women to take deliberate steps toward leadership, citing global examples of successful Nigerian women in international roles.

“The talent and leadership potential are already there. It’s time women stopped waiting and started leading,” he said.

An aspiring lawmaker, Temitope Olawoyin, who is eyeing the Egbeda Constituency seat in the Oyo State House of Assembly, said managing homes and running businesses are already forms of leadership.

“Women are already doing the hard work in their communities. What we need is to channel that experience into public service,” she stated.

Also present was Mrs. Mercy Balogun, a marriage counsellor and author, who shared how the programme changed her perception of politics.

“I used to see politics as something for men. But now I know that if we want change, we must be part of the process,” she said.

Dr. Olatoye Akuko, CEO of JIT Empirical Global Consult, also noted that the event had motivated her to consider political involvement, saying:

“Women are planners, problem-solvers, and leaders. These are the qualities our politics desperately needs.”

The sensitisation programme continues to gain traction across the state, as organizers aim to build a network of politically conscious women ready to engage actively at all levels of governance.

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