Stakeholders on Tuesday expressed concern that deep-rooted structural and institutional challenges continue to hinder women’s participation in leadership across Nigeria’s political and economic sectors, despite growing public acceptance.

The concerns were raised at a policy summit held in Abuja, focused on advancing women’s leadership and addressing systemic barriers.

Speaking at the event, Oluwatobiloba Moody, Director of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Nigeria Office, said greater inclusion of women in leadership is essential for innovation and economic progress.

He warned that sidelining women, particularly in innovation-driven industries, limits national development, stressing that inclusive leadership should be seen as both a social and economic priority.

“If we are serious about growth and innovation, then we must ensure that women have equal access to opportunities,” he said, calling for deliberate policies to expand women’s participation in areas such as technology and the creative economy.

The summit, organised by WIPO, is part of an initiative launched in 2023 to promote women’s leadership and economic impact in innovation and creative sectors. The 2026 edition, themed “The Audacity for Change: Women Leading Innovation and Creativity for Nigeria’s Economic Transformation,” brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, and development partners.

Participants noted that while advocacy for women’s representation has increased over the years, progress remains slow. Women continue to be underrepresented in governance and corporate leadership, despite rising public support.

Recent data indicates that most Nigerians are open to women occupying top leadership roles, reflecting growing confidence in their capabilities. However, experts said this shift in perception has not translated into significant institutional change.

Beatrice Eyong, Resident Representative of UN Women in Nigeria and ECOWAS, said increased acceptance must be matched with concrete reforms.

She identified limited access to opportunities, funding, and decision-making spaces as key obstacles, noting that sustained implementation of policies is necessary to close the gap.

“It is not enough to have frameworks on paper; we must ensure they are implemented in ways that create real opportunities for women,” she said.

Also speaking, Elsie Attafuah of the United Nations Development Programme highlighted weak enforcement of existing gender equality laws as a major challenge.

She said although legal frameworks have improved, inadequate institutional capacity continues to undermine their effectiveness, preventing women from accessing leadership roles.

Similarly, Olujoke Aliyu, co-managing partner at Aluko & Oyebode, called for stronger accountability mechanisms, noting that gaps in enforcement have limited the impact of existing laws.

She stressed the need to evaluate whether policies are delivering practical benefits for women, particularly in workplaces and leadership pipelines.

From the private sector, Ngozi Ekeoma, Group Managing Director of Nepal Group of Companies, urged organisations to move beyond rhetoric and adopt concrete measures to promote gender inclusion.

She advocated mentorship programmes, fair recruitment systems, and leadership development initiatives, while also calling attention to persistent issues such as pay gaps and restricted access to professional networks.

Speakers at the summit agreed that achieving gender equality requires coordinated efforts across public and private sectors, including stronger institutions, effective monitoring systems and consistent enforcement of existing policies.

They emphasised that empowering women in leadership roles not only promotes equity but also enhances innovation, decision-making, and overall economic performance.