Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for greater representation of women in Nigeria’s political and leadership landscape, urging political stakeholders to deliberately create more opportunities for women to occupy elective and strategic positions.

The governor made the appeal on Wednesday during the launch of the Project 774 Explode Initiative in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The programme, an empowerment initiative championed by the National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is designed to strengthen women’s participation in governance and leadership.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, Aiyedatiwa said sustainable national development requires the active involvement of women, describing them as indispensable contributors to societal growth and nation-building.

According to him, women continue to play vital roles in strengthening families, driving economic activities, promoting peace, and contributing meaningfully to sectors such as governance, education, agriculture, technology and entrepreneurship.

He stressed that leadership should be determined by competence, integrity and commitment to service rather than gender, adding that while progress has been made in promoting gender inclusion, much more remains to be done.

The governor urged policymakers and political leaders to intentionally remove obstacles that limit women’s participation in public life, including cultural biases, economic challenges and institutional barriers.

He noted that initiatives such as Project 774 Explode provide a platform to accelerate women’s inclusion in leadership and decision-making, adding that societies achieve lasting progress when they harness the abilities and contributions of both men and women.

Aiyedatiwa also praised the APC National Women Leader for bringing the initiative to Ondo State, describing it as a strategic effort to unlock the leadership potential of women across communities.

Speaking at the event, APC National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Idele, called for increased opportunities for women, particularly young women, to participate in politics and governance.

She said Nigeria has a growing number of educated, innovative and capable young women whose talents should be reflected in leadership positions at all levels of government and within political parties.

Idele maintained that women’s political participation extends beyond occupying public office, saying it is essential for influencing policies and ensuring women’s perspectives are reflected in decisions that affect society.

She appealed to parents, traditional institutions, religious leaders, community leaders and party stakeholders to provide mentorship, encouragement and opportunities that would enable more young women to pursue leadership roles.

Despite years of advocacy for gender inclusion, women remain underrepresented in Nigeria’s political and governance structures. Although they constitute a significant share of the country’s population and are actively involved in political mobilisation and party activities, their presence in elective and appointive offices remains limited.

Civil society organisations, women’s advocacy groups and development partners have continued to push for reforms aimed at improving female representation, including support for affirmative action policies and the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill. However, progress toward achieving broader gender balance in governance has remained gradual.