Governor Makinde reaffirms Oyo’s commitment to gender inclusion

He stated that his government has consistently supported programmes and initiatives aimed at boosting women’s participation in governance.

The governor made the declaration on Friday while receiving members of the TOS Foundation on a courtesy visit to his office.

He emphasised his commitment to initiatives that promote women’s involvement in politics, saying, “I am fully in support of every effort to increase women’s participation in politics.”

Makinde highlighted the significant roles women currently play in his administration, noting that the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Service and four commissioners are women.

“In Oyo State, we are a little bit different. The Head of Service and the SSG already tick the box for gender inclusivity. We also have female commissioners heading the Ministries of Women Affairs, Health, Youth and Sports, and Special Duties,” he said.

He recalled that in 2019, the state had only one female member in the House of Assembly, but now has two. Although the numbers are still low, he said, they reflect progress in the right direction. Makinde stressed that every woman appointed to his administration earned her merit position, not merely for optics.

We are gender-friendly, yes, but all of them got their appointments on merit,” he added.

Addressing the foundation’s call for support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, the governor said the issue of gender imbalance must be tackled with foresight.

While expressing support for the bill, he insisted that such provisions must be time-bound.

To justify his position, Makinde reflected on the political history of Nigeria, explaining how the country’s founding fathers negotiated a federal system and multi-party democracy. He recounted discussions with former military leaders, who said the shift towards a unitary structure after the civil war was driven by the need for national unity at the time.

“But since 1970, we continued with that arrangement even though the problems we face today are different,” he noted.

He argued that the same approach should apply to gender issues:

“I agree that there is a gender imbalance today. But will this be the case in 20 years? I will support the bill to the extent that a time limit is set—maybe 16 years,” Makinde said.

Earlier, the leader of the TOS Foundation delegation, Osasu Ogwuche, renewed calls for stronger legislative action to ensure increased women’s participation in politics. She lamented persistent under-representation, saying, “Women remain underrepresented in politics despite the progress we have made. It is time to break the glass ceiling”

Ogwuche explained that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill seeks to guarantee women a minimum level of representation in elective positions.

“We are calling for the enactment of this bill because women are agents of change, and their participation is essential for building a more prosperous nation,” she said.

She added that enhancing women’s political visibility would strengthen democracy and improve national development.

The foundation also sought the government’s collaboration with Isuzu to expand the number of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses in the state to support affordable transportation.

“Access to safe and affordable transportation remains a key factor in women’s mobility and economic empowerment,” she noted.

Governor Makinde assured the delegation that all proposals would receive due consideration, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to policies that promote equity and inclusion.

Present at the meeting were the wife of the governor, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde, Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun; Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Biodun Aikomo; and members of the TOS Foundation.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, restates his administration’s dedication to expanding opportunities for women to assume leadership roles across the state.