IRI Launches New Women's Coalition

March 10, 2006

To encourage more women’s participation in Nigerian politics, the International Republican Institute (IRI) launched the Nigeria Coalition for the Development of Women. The event, held at the National Women Development Centre in Abuja, brought together political party, civil society and academic women leaders from across the country.

The coalition will help women as they aspire to elected and appointed positions in government. The coalition, through its activities, is also working to remove the social, economic, legal, and structural barriers that exist for prospective women candidates.

In recent weeks, members of the coalition’s steering committee have made advocacy visits to political party leaders and to the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives Aminu Bello Masari. Amo­­­ng the items the coalition is advocating for, is a 30 percent quota of women for elected and appointed government positions.

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