Añuli Aniebo, Executive Director of HEIR Women Hub, has called on the National Assembly to unanimously pass the Reserved Seats Bill (HB1349) at its September 22 hearing. She stressed that young women, who make up Nigeria’s majority, must be included in governance to strengthen democracy, equity, and national development.
Tell us why you have taken a leading role in the advocacy for the Reserved Seats Bill?
I function within the Gender, Development and Policy space, serving as the Executive Director for HEIR Women Hub. HWH works on addressing and ending structural, institutional, educational and socioeconomic barriers that stifle girls and young women in attaining leadership and decision making roles. We aim to see more young women take on leadership positions in our Nation by creating inclusive intervention programs that are contextual and effective. I’m a published Author and advocate. Why did I take on this role? – The advocacy of the RSB has been years coming. I have been in the field, engaging, advocating, organising and speaking on varying issues regarding women rights for almost a decade. I have done so in the midst of very important, experienced and exemplary women who started before me, enabling my learning and growth when I took the Gender advocacy route, and challenged my thinking to explore more broadly to ensure we bring the rights of girls, women, PWDs and minority groups as a table topic. I was part of the conversation and advocacy when this bill was introduced alongside the Gender Bills by Hon. Onyejeocha, WROs and CSOs in Nigeria. With another chance at this RSB in the 10th Assembly, my focus is the same, young women positioning and envisioning themselves in the leadership opportunities is the vision. Taking a lead on this initiative and coordinating the Reserved Seats Bill Advocacy group would enable the youth- especially young women- not be left out in the grand scheme of things.
What does the Reserved Seats Bill mean for Nigerian women, especially young women, and why is it important at this stage of our democracy?
The ranking of Nigeria on the Ibrahim Index for African Governance (IIAG) is at its all time low. Participation, Rights and Inclusion (PRI) indicators tracks governance performance in 54 countries. The indicators take into account the inclusion of societies such as – women’s equity, public perceptions as well as the barriers that keep women from leading.
One active way for Nigeria to improve on the IIAG is through the Reserved Seats Bill. The National Assembly has the opportunity to address this gap and close it, while giving a clear path for women’s participation. So, speaking about its importance is not rhetorical in my opinion. Everyone knows (and should know) women inclusion is vital to make economic progress and increase investments through equity driven development.
Fifty-eight percent of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 30 with the youth demographic, so young women are part of the population that forms the vast majority of the nation’s people. Now for young women, which is my focus, they are members of the citizenry. Young women in leadership is not a mantra to escape from. There are a large base of young women who can lead if given the equitable opportunity to do so. And so democracy has to be demonstrated and young women are key to actualising SDG 5 which is also clearly evidenced in the SDG Index Rankings.
You have mobilised a volunteer-based group of young women. How are they contributing to this advocacy, and what would you like lawmakers to understand about the voices of these young women?
Reserved Seats Bill Advocacy is a group of volunteers that are inclusive of PWDs, men, women, boys and girls, who are interested and willing to support this movement and see a Nation rise up the ranks of development. So, yes I may have constituted this movement however I share equal rights and entitlements with every volunteer. Every demography is represented irrespective of affiliation, class, ability, status or gender but united with one focus, and that’s to work together for an inclusive society for us and for our children. Everyone is working tirelessly, bringing ideas, planning, conversations and understanding the bill. We have legal minds, media personalities, leaders of international organisations, mentors in the field who I consult with and are aware and kept informed on progress as well. The young women especially are very interested because they now feel seen and feel a sense of belonging to this group because it’s an inclusive approach and a leadership linear line across the community. I must add that in the context of this advocacy, it’s absolutely not funded, it is not paid for, volunteers are not getting paid. The idea is to bring back the spirit of volunteerism and reduce transactional engagement and exploitation. It’s to serve where National and collective interests is prioritised.
Law makers will need to see that the population of people they govern over are inclusive of young women too. They need to understand that Laws are made and human beings have to live by them. Young women make up these set of people that are governed and that’s a vital piece of the puzzle that has to be addressed.
Some young women feel disconnected from governance. What specific commitments do you want the National Assembly to make to ensure their inclusion through this bill?
Part of what I do is mentor girls and young women and yes, there is bouts of disconnection but why won’t there be? Social expectations and societal pressures deems most visionary women. The focus groups I have had while developing this advocacy group base gave the impression that the bill is viewed as being “elitist”, only certain people can engage the bill. While this is not an accurate reflection of it in my opinion, that’s the impression some of the young people have. There is a gap that requires an intervention in the current conversation of this bill and we have to draw the focus back into the reason for this bill and this is women inclusion in leadership and political participation.
So, I suggest that the National Assembly listen to the vibrations that is occurring and make a sensitive call for the galvanisation of the bill to be inclusive. I would like to see legislators have discussions about this bill and let the conversation be a balanced one as we can improve upon our positions as a Nation if we try.
You launched a petition to gather signatures in support of the bill. How many voices have signed on so far, and how do you expect the National Assembly to respond to such a public mandate?
We have a fast-growing community open to interested volunteers on the WhatsApp platform and to further push this advocacy, we have an open petition on Change.Org called Vote for the Reserved Seats Bill (HB1349) to Increase Women Representation in NASS
What we use these data for is to make continued advocacy cases for the bill as it’s in a public domain, develop intellectual articles and curate information for dissemination. We hope that the National Assembly will be further convinced of the commitment that citizens have to this bill and that movements like the Reserved Seats Bill Advocacy Group of volunteers, are making huge strides to increase the visibility of a vital piece of legislation.
Your knowledge-sharing session this weekend is timed just before the hearing. What message are you hoping will come out of it that lawmakers should not ignore?
The knowledge sharing is a platform to engage on the intricacies of the bill while envisioning the future of young women in the possibilities of leadership. The knowledge ambassadors are young women and men as well as PWDs who will share on the understanding, gaps and challenges but center the need to engage progressively for this bill.
We want lawmakers to be aware that conversations like these are happening and that these are what should be happening along side all the parallel and necessary work being done on the bill. Lawmakers should also understand that young people have got a huge capacity to take on opportunities and are willing to give time and effort to increase knowledge about the issues in our dear country. I personally request that the lawmakers pay more attention to us. We are here!
Critics often argue that reserved seats are not a sustainable solution. How do you want to address this perception, especially to the National Assembly members who may still be undecided?
It’s okay to have varying opinions about this bill. Having it means we look at things holistically, we take on everyone’s concerns and we push more energy to unpacking and understanding the bill as well as better ways to improve upon its sustainability. The critics just have to look at countries that have implemented it and then find how to contextualise Nigeria, learn from the mistakes the other countries made and arm ourselves while ratifying ours. This bill can be queried when we have tried it out. This bill can be reviewed in 16 years. This bill has not been here before and deserves the opportunity to be voted for this chance at history.
To the undecided members of the hollowed chambers, I urge you to re-imagine a progressive Nigeria where you had a hand in championing. I would say that the historic moment lays in their hands. Their pens can be used as a wand to make the country take on a trajectory that will go a very long way to re-position our dear country, globally. The 10th Assembly will be an assembly to be revered and referenced for the rest of their political history. I trust that the National Assembly will do what is needed to vote this bill.
If the Reserved Seats Bill is passed, what role do you believe young women can play in sustaining democracy and governance in Nigeria?
Young women are a vibrant group of people that have capacity and ability to participate in governance. Equitable opportunities will be created and when such opportunities are based on competence, the base of young women will lead without doubt. Young women experience intersections of inequalities, discrimination, ageism, gender bias, intimidation, exploitation, underemployment and underemployment, digital abuse and so many various violence for just existing. It is time that more focus is directed towards young people who make up 58% of over 220 million people. And as I like to say, the baton of leadership will be passed on to young people. The young generation will be ready to receive and run forward to continue to position Nigeria as a developed Nation. But we first have to take responsibility to ensure that young people are seen.
Finally, what is your one clear call to action for lawmakers at the hearing on September 22 regarding the future of women’s representation in Nigeria?
My one clear call is – The benefits for increasing the representation of women in leadership is tangible, palpable, measurable and achievable. Nigeria can do this. So I urge you to vote unanimously for the reservation of seats and make the legislative an inclusive space.
