Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele said on Thursday that Nigeria cannot realise its full potential unless women are given greater opportunities to participate in governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.
Bamidele described gender inclusion as ‘a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength’, rather than an act of favour, stressing that meaningful inclusion must go beyond merely increasing the number of women in public institutions.
The Senate Leader spoke on Thursday while chairing the presentation of The Female Diplomat: Navigating Power, Ambition and Identity at Nigeria House in New York, United States.
The event attracted prominent Nigerian and international figures, including United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Ms Amina Mohammed; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim; Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Kayode Are; and the President/CEO of Montefiore Einstein.
Bamidele said Nigeria’s democracy would be strengthened when citizens were adequately represented in institutions established to serve them.
‘Gender inclusion is not an act of favour. It is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and institutional strength,’ he said.
‘No nation can realise its full potential if a significant proportion of its population is unable to contribute fully to governance, diplomacy, economic development and public leadership.’
He said President Bola Tinubu’s administration had recognised the importance of harnessing the abilities of all Nigerians, noting that the Renewed Hope Agenda emphasised ensuring that women and young people were not excluded from the nation’s political, economic and social development.
According to him, genuine inclusion requires more than having women occupy positions in government or other institutions.
‘It requires genuine opportunities to participate in decision-making, exercise responsibility and contribute to the formulation and implementation of public policy,’ he said.
Bamidele also linked gender inclusion to Nigeria’s diplomatic strength, arguing that the country’s international representation would benefit from drawing on the full breadth of its human talent.
‘Our foreign relations are also enriched when Nigeria is represented by capable professionals whose knowledge, judgement and experience reflect the breadth of our national talent,’ he said.
The Senate Leader said the National Assembly had an important role to play in creating the legislative and institutional framework for greater inclusion.
He said Parliament would continue to promote institutions that were ‘fair, accessible and responsive’ through legislation, representation and oversight.
Bamidele urged the National Assembly and other institutions to create an environment where competence was recognised, and qualified women had broader opportunities to assume leadership responsibilities.
‘This is not a responsibility for the government alone,’ he said, adding that political institutions, the diplomatic service, the private sector, academic institutions and civil society all had roles to play.
‘Progress will require deliberate policies, supportive institutions and a collective willingness to recognise talent wherever it is found,’ he said.
The Senate Leader said the book presentation gave leaders, diplomats, scholars and members of the public an opportunity to deepen the national conversation on gender, leadership and Nigeria’s engagement with the international community.
The event was held alongside the Nigeria Investment Forum 2026, which brought together government representatives, international investors, development finance institutions, multinational corporations, business leaders and strategic partners to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria.