By Tony Ezike
The 2025 HID Awolọwọ Foundation Dialogue in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Tuesday took on a solemn tone as Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife (IYOM), PhD, CON, joined the Foundation, dignitaries, and stakeholders in mourning the passing of Mr. Oluṣẹgun Awolọwọ, grandson of the late Chief Obafẹmi Awolọwọ and Yeye Oodua HID Awolọwọ.
The event’s programme was formally adjusted following the news of the tragic loss. In a statement issued on Saturday, the HID Awolọwọ Foundation said the development had cast a shadow of grief over the Awolọwọ family and the larger community that reveres the towering legacy of the late patriarch and matriarch.
According to the Foundation, a special segment of this year’s dialogue was dedicated to honouring the memory of the departed, celebrating his life, his contributions, and the enduring values of service, character, and public-spirited leadership that define the Awolọwọ heritage.
Despite the sorrow that framed the gathering, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining national conversations on women’s political empowerment; an advocacy space in which HID Awolọwọ was a pioneer and lifelong champion.
Senator Ekwunife, who received the Prestigious Award of Recognition at the Dialogue, used her platform to commiserate deeply with the Awolọwọ family. She described the passing of Mr. Oluṣẹgun Awolọwọ as “a painful blow to a family that has given Nigeria generations of leadership, sacrifice and nation-building wisdom.”
She paid homage to Yeye Oodua HID Awolọwọ, noting that the Foundation’s work continues to reflect her values: “Mama HID Awolọwọ was a strategist, an organiser, and a stabilising force. Her strength empowered many, and her legacy continues to illuminate the path of leadership for women in Nigeria.”
Ekwunife specially commended the Chairman of the occasion and keynote speaker, Senator Daisy Danjuma, former Senator of the Federal Republic and Executive Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum, for her inspiring leadership and distinguished contributions.
Turning to the theme of the dialogue: “Breaking Barriers or Standing Still? Nigerian Women in Politics 30 Years After Beijing”, Senator Ekwunife delivered a powerful address highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms to strengthen women’s political participation.
She observed that women currently occupy less than 10% of elective positions nationwide, describing the figure as a “democratic deficit.” In the Senate, women hold under 5% of seats; in the House of Representatives, only about 8%; and across the states, just four women serve as deputy governors.
Ekwunife lamented the structural constraints within major political parties, which she described as “the true gatekeepers of democracy, yet largely resistant to women’s emergence.” She noted that no major political party in Nigeria is currently led by a woman.
She spoke candidly about the challenges women face; violence, monetisation, misinformation, and misogyny, recalling instances of gender bias, including derogatory remarks from male colleagues.
The senator celebrated Nigerian women whose excellence continues to inspire the world, citing Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Amina Mohammed, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Daisy Danjuma, Dame Virgy Etiaba, the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, Mo Abudu and others. She stressed that the nation’s challenge “has never been women’s competence but access, opportunity and institutional support.”
Drawing on her own career journey from banking to the National Assembly, she reflected on the dual burdens women must navigate, balancing leadership expectations with domestic responsibilities. She highlighted her legislative contributions, particularly her role in securing first-line charge funding for NASENI as Chair of the Senate Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation.
Ekwunife’s presentation included an ambitious eight-point proposal for expanding gender inclusion. These include:
A Women-in-Politics Accountability Charter for political parties
A National Women’s Shadow Parliament
Mandatory anti-bias training for political leaders
Enforceable safety protocols for female candidates
Dedicated budget lines for women’s leadership development
She challenged political parties to release gender inclusion targets ahead of the next election cycle, insisting that the nation must shift “from rhetoric to reform.”
“A nation cannot walk on one leg; neither can it think with half its brain,” she declared, describing gender inclusion as smart governance essential for national progress.
Senator Ekwunife concluded on a message of hope: “We will not stand still. We will rise. We will lead. We will transform this nation.”
Her recognition by the HID Awolọwọ Foundation adds to her growing national profile as a leading voice on women’s political inclusion and democratic reform. The Foundation’s decision to honour her, even amid a moment of bereavement, underscores the urgency and importance of the issues she champions.
