{"id":124179,"date":"2025-12-03T19:52:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T18:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=124179"},"modified":"2025-12-03T19:52:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T18:52:29","slug":"ecofepa-forum-demands-gender-justice-as-ecowas-parliament-clocks-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/news\/ecofepa-forum-demands-gender-justice-as-ecowas-parliament-clocks-25\/","title":{"rendered":"ECOFEPA Forum Demands Gender Justice as ECOWAS Parliament Clocks 25\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>By Lizzy Chirkpi<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) on Tuesday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament with a spirited forum in Abuja, placing a sharp spotlight on the push for women\u2019s proportional representation in governance.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>With the theme \u201cAdvancing Women\u2019s Proportional Representation in Governance,\u201d the event brought together key regional voices, and set the tone for what ECOFEPA leaders described as a renewed, urgent battle for gender parity.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>ECOFEPA President, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, delivered a stirring message, celebrating how far the regional bloc has come while reminding delegates that the work ahead remains significant.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cThis anniversary is not just about celebrating our progress,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a moment to recommit ourselves to building a region defined by inclusivity, genuine representation, and effective governance.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The forum, which drew notable dignitaries including Nigeria\u2019s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and the Minister of Women Affairs, served as a rallying ground for a more assertive ECOFEPA agenda anchored on the slogan: \u201cECOFEPA-ACTION! ECOWAS WOMEN ACTION NOW!\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Hon. Sesay noted that although the ECOWAS Parliament has reached a historic 26.3% female representation, West Africa still trails other African regions in terms of women\u2019s political participation. She highlighted Nigeria\u2019s particularly low figure of 6%, contrasting it with Senegal\u2019s impressive 42%, a success she attributed to strong quota legislation.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Drawing from the realities many women face in politics, she stressed that female parliamentarians are well placed to break down structural barriers because they \u201chave firsthand experience navigating male-dominated political environments.\u201d According to her, this experience makes them strong advocates for reforms such as financial support for female candidates and enforceable gender quotas.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>A major point in her address was the need for female parliamentarians across West Africa to rise to the responsibility of creating space for the next generation. Hon. Sesay reiterated the call for all ECOWAS member states to meet the 30% representation benchmark.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cIt is not enough for women to enter parliament; they must open the doors wider for others,\u201d she said, describing the 30% goal as both a duty and a legacy. She expressed hope for a future where women\u2019s voices will not only resonate in parliaments but become a permanent, transformative force across the region.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Hon. Sesay commended the leadership of ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, for ensuring that this crucial dialogue was woven into the Parliament\u2019s 25th anniversary celebration. She further praised former female leaders like Her Excellency Jewel Howard-Taylor and Madam Finda Koroma for securing ECOFEPA\u2019s annual budget, a move she said has helped sustain the group\u2019s programmes and strengthen its institutional capacity.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As she rounded off her remarks, Hon. Sesay delivered a powerful call to action: \u201cMy dear sisters, now is our moment to claim gender justice in Nigerian politics! AMEN.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The forum is now expected to develop a strategic roadmap aimed at pushing for proportional representation both at national and regional levels setting the stage for the next chapter of ECOWAS, one that the female parliamentarians hope will be marked by deeper inclusivity, broader participation, and a governance system that truly reflects the region\u2019s diversity.<\/div>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Lizzy Chirkpi The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) on Tuesday commemorated the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament with a spirited forum in Abuja, placing a sharp spotlight on&hellip;<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Related Posts generic via filter on wp_trim_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":124180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - 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