Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed concern over the underrepresentation of women in politics and called for increased efforts to educate the girl child.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Odumegwu-Ojukwu participated in a panel discussion titled “30 Years of Progress, Resilience, Impact and Renewed Hope,” presented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. She commended Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for facilitating the historic event.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the significant challenges faced by women in political spaces, noting that some of these obstacles are reinforced by other women. She criticized the tendency of women to limit their political roles to supporting male politicians rather than backing fellow women seeking political office.
“Women in African societies often relegate themselves to being praise singers for men entering office. When a woman seeks political office, it becomes difficult to rally the same level of support from other women,” she observed.
The minister emphasized the need to shift this mindset, pointing out the structural imbalance in political parties. “In Western political systems such as the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Republican Party, or Democratic Party, there are no ‘women leaders.’ However, African political parties feel compelled to designate women leaders, which implies that women are seen as a separate segment requiring special consideration. This perception needs to change,” she asserted.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also addressed the societal barriers women face when seeking elective office, including discrimination based on their family background or marital status. “When a woman steps into politics, questions often arise about her origins and her husband’s background. This type of discrimination cuts across social and economic status,” she remarked.
Sharing her personal experience, Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the challenge of balancing early financial success with education. She recalled winning beauty pageants that brought her both fame and financial independence while she was studying law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
“One of the biggest challenges for young women is managing early financial success. The temptation to abandon education is real. At the time, I was earning my own money while living in a student hostel with limited resources. Completing my law degree was one of the most difficult but rewarding decisions of my life,” she said.
She concluded by urging young women to recognize the long-term value of education, stressing that it remains a powerful tool for empowerment and political participation.
