NEW YORK, USA—The head of Nigeria’s Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hulayat Omidiran, has called for a global commitment to inclusive governance and gender balance as essential pillars for democratic stability.
Speaking at a high-level event titled “Global Women Partnership Without Borders” during the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, Ms. Omidiran argued that sustainable development is impossible without equitable participation.
“Gender balancing and inclusivity are not peripheral conversations; they are central to sustainable development and enduring peace,” she told an audience of policymakers and civil society leaders at Nigeria House. “When leadership reflects the diversity of its people, trust deepens.”
A Mandate for Equity
The FCC is a Nigerian constitutional body tasked with ensuring that the distribution of public posts and socio-economic amenities reflects the country’s diversity. While its traditional focus has been on regional and ethnic balance, Ms. Omidiran is increasingly championing the inclusion of women and marginalised groups within this framework.
She noted that societies that empower women are better positioned to harness their full “human capital” for economic growth. The commission, she said, is working to ensure that opportunity in Nigeria’s public institutions is determined by merit rather than bias.
Constructing Unity
The FCC chairman urged governments worldwide to move beyond rhetoric and adopt concrete policies that promote equality.
“National unity is not accidental; it is constructed through policies that dignify every citizen,” she said. “When every voice matters, the nation prospers.”
The 70th session of the CSW is a primary global forum for evaluating progress on women’s empowerment. Nigeria’s participation this year highlights a push by domestic institutions to align national policies with international standards of gender-responsive governance.
Add Comment