By Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali | The Bureau News
In Nigeria’s political landscape, women are often treated as indispensable during elections but sidelined when it comes to governance. Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State is seeking to change that narrative by deliberately weaving inclusiveness into his administration’s fabric.
Recently, the governor met with women leaders across the state—including 225 ward representatives, councillors, local government executives, and members of the ruling party’s state committee. Unlike routine political gatherings, the meeting underscored a recalibration of power and genuine recognition of women as stakeholders in governance.
Governor Idris emphasized that development must align with empowerment. Renovating health facilities, he argued, is not just about infrastructure but about saving mothers’ lives. Urban modernization, he said, is not mere beautification but an economic multiplier. His decision to grant six months of maternity leave reinforced his administration’s commitment to family welfare as a core policy priority.
For decades, women have lamented token appointments and symbolic positions. Under Nasir Idris, however, they are witnessing a shift—councillorship slots in every local government, inclusion in ad-hoc committees, seasonal welfare support, and access to financial empowerment and skills acquisition schemes. Though modest, these steps are cumulatively expanding women’s role in governance.
The governor has also been strategic in his expectations. He called on women to drive grassroots mobilization in the ongoing voter registration exercise, noting that women make up the majority of the voting population. By assigning them a decisive role, he elevated their status from electoral supporters to democratic power brokers.
Symbolic gestures still hold sway. The presentation of a brand-new Toyota Hilux to the State Women Leader demonstrated both recognition and reward. Yet the larger shift is clear: the architecture of governance in Kebbi State is tilting toward inclusivity.
If sustained, this trajectory could inspire a new template for governance in Northern Nigeria and beyond—one where women are not only campaign mobilizers but also policy shapers and decision-makers. For a country grappling with inclusivity, Governor Idris’s model shows that investing in women is not an act of charity, but a politically prudent strategy with long-term dividends.
