Today, as the world marks the International Women’s Day, the Chairman of The Progressive Forum, Ibadan (TPFI), Mr Tunji Oladejo, celebrates the strength of women and asks a hard question about power in Nigeria, in a statement by the Forum’s Secretary, Prince Kola Amoo Adelakin.
“Happy International Women’s Day. A kú ọdún”, Mr Oladejo said. He contended that “Women are not supporters of nation-building, they are its foundation, just as homes cannot stand without their labour. But we must ask ourselves: Melo ni obìnrin tó wà ní ipò àláṣẹ? Melo ni obìnrin tó ń gba orókè? Melo ni obìnrin tó ń gba idíje ìbò? How many women hold executive power? How many speak from podiums? How many contest and win elections? Every time, people say ọkùnrin ló tó sí—men are the ones qualified. That answer is wrong.”
He stressed that while women are capable of everything men do, Nigerian politics still pushes them out: primaries too costly to enter, party structures that treat women’s wings as errand units, campaign posters vandalised in Ibadan, and candidate lists decided behind closed doors. “Saying women are capable is true, but expecting them to succeed without protection is naive,” he added.
Mr Oladejo called for practical steps: parties applying quotas seriously, INEC publishing gender-disaggregated lists, donors supporting women’s campaigns in Ogbomoso, Iseyin, Eruwa and Ibadan, and cooperatives organising safe transport to rallies. He urged a change in language—women who run households should be recognised as managers of budgets and logistics, not “helpers.”
“Self-support is vital—‘let women rise, ready to back themselves,’” he said. “But solidarity is just as important. Women’s cooperatives in Ibadan must pool savings and back candidates. If scaled up, ‘foundation’ stops being a metaphor and becomes real structure.”
He concluded: “Today’s ceremonies will fade. What will remain is the next list of candidates. How many women will be on it? Rise, yes—then organise, nominate, protect, and win.”
