FCT CJ: Women Belong Where Decisions Are Made
Alex Enumah in Abuja
The Chief Judge (CJ) of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, has called for a fundamental rethink of Nigeria’s governance architecture, insisting that women must occupy more positions of influence if democracy is to deliver equitable outcomes.
Justice Yusuf, who made the call at the opening ceremony of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria’s 2026, Second Quarter NEC Meeting in Abuja, framed women’s representation as a question of fairness, institutional legitimacy and national development.
Represented by Justice Maryanne Anenih, the Chief Judge noted that democratic systems function best when they reflect the diversity of the people they serve and urged lawyers, judges and policymakers to deploy the law as a catalyst for social inclusion and reform.
While stressing that democratic institutions cannot claim legitimacy if women continue to be excluded from leadership and policy formulation, the CJ challenged participants to rethink governance through the lens of inclusion, stressing that women’s voices are indispensable to effective lawmaking, justice delivery and institutional development.
In her keynote, a former member of the House of Representatives and ex-diplomat, Hon. Nkoyo E. Toyo, argued that women continue to face deeply entrenched legal, financial and cultural barriers that limit their participation in politics despite decades of advocacy.
She urged women to contest elections, seek appointments and build political influence, stressing that meaningful change requires direct engagement in the arenas where decisions are taken.
According to Toyo, increasing women’s presence in governance is not merely about fairness but about improving policymaking through broader perspectives and lived experiences.
In her welcome remarks, FIDA Abuja Chairperson, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, described the NEC meeting as a strategic platform for advancing women’s rights, strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that representation moves beyond numbers to real influence.
She urged participants to leave Abuja with actionable commitments capable of reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape and expanding opportunities for future generations of women leaders.
