The Executive and Legislative arms of government in Nigeria, along with members of the diplomatic community and development partners, have reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing gender equity, inclusive governance, and increased female representation in leadership positions across the country. This commitment was expressed at the graduation ceremony of the inaugural cohort of the HerCademy Leadership Institute, an initiative of TOS Foundation Africa, held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Historic Graduation Ceremony
The historic and widely attended event brought together senior government officials, legislators, diplomats, policy advocates, and civil society leaders to celebrate the successful completion of the Institute's intensive six-week legislative mentorship and policy leadership programme. This programme was designed to prepare women for greater participation in governance and public leadership.
Government Commitment Renewed
Representing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Education reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to women's empowerment under the administration's Renewed Hope Agenda. According to the President, establishing a leadership institute such as HerCademy represents a strategic investment in Nigeria's future and in the development of a new generation of transformational leaders.
"Establishing a leadership institution is not merely an investment in education; it is an investment in the future of our nation and humanity. Programs such as these are vital to our national development because they nurture imagination, encourage innovation, and challenge participants to think critically about real-world solutions," the President stated.
Legislative Support for Women
On the legislative front, the President of the Senate, His Excellency Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Ireti Kingibe, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, described the current underrepresentation of women in Nigeria's parliament as a "democratic emergency." Highlighting that women currently occupy only 3.67 percent of seats in the 10th National Assembly, the Senate President stressed the urgent need for structural reforms to guarantee women's participation in governance.
"When 50 percent of the population is sidelined, the nation operates at half capacity. We lose the vital perspectives that women bring to security, education, health, and economic stability. My office will remain an open door for this cohort to integrate your policy analysis into the legislative agenda, and I will continue to champion the Reserved Seats for Women Bill to ensure this gap is permanently closed."
Deputy Speaker's Keynote
Delivering his keynote address, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, also described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at closing the representation gap for women in Nigeria's legislative institutions. He remarked that he is a witness to the fact that HerCademy as an initiative had equipped participants with practical political and leadership skills through policy analysis, legislative simulations, mentorship, and internships within the National Assembly.
Reaffirming his commitment to inclusive governance, the Deputy Speaker noted that his sponsorship of the Reserved Seats Bill for women was a deliberate legislative effort to strengthen Nigeria's democracy by expanding women's participation in decision-making processes. He commended TOS Foundation Africa and the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria for establishing what he called a vital pipeline for grooming informed, confident, and capable female leaders, while urging graduands to translate their training into meaningful political engagement ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle and ongoing constitutional reforms.
International Support
Also speaking at the event, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, His Excellency Amb. Patrick Egloff, reaffirmed Switzerland's commitment to supporting democratic participation and gender inclusion initiatives globally and in Nigeria. "A nation cannot reach its full potential when half of its population faces systemic barriers to leadership. Our partnership with TOS Foundation on the HerCademy Leadership Institute is a deliberate investment in the people who will carry these values into Nigeria's governance structures in the years ahead," he stated.
Call to Action
In the same vein, wife of the Speaker of House of Representative, Alh Fatima Tajudeen Abbas, described the initiative as a timely platform for leadership development, civic participation, and women's empowerment. She commended TOS Foundation Africa and the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria for championing a programme that equips young women with the skills, networks, and confidence needed for active participation in governance and nation-building.
In her address, the Founder, TOS Foundation Africa and President of the HerCademy Leadership Institute, Chief Mrs. Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, congratulated the graduating fellows for successfully completing the rigorous programme and encouraged them to boldly occupy leadership and decision-making spaces. "Today is a celebration of growth, courage, purpose, and possibility. Our fellows entered Hercademy with ambition, but they leave today with clarity, confidence, and the conviction that they belong in the room where decisions are made," she said.
