The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has declared that Nigeria’s democracy cannot achieve its full potential while women remain grossly underrepresented in political leadership. Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is translating regional commitments into measurable national action by reactivating the six Zonal Women Political Empowerment Centres established in 2005 and transforming them into year-round academies for campaign management, leadership development, political education, public speaking, mentorship and election monitoring. Drawing from the recently concluded West Africa Women’s Political Leadership Forum in Abuja, she underscored the urgency of expanding women’s political participation across the region. She also highlighted the nationwide Power of 10 Million movement, describing Nigeria’s women voters as a decisive electoral force capable of reshaping political outcomes. She also appealed to male political leaders to champion women’s inclusion, declaring: “To the men who lead our institutions and political parties, I make a special appeal: be allies, not gatekeepers.