Abuja, Nigeria — The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) yesterday hosted its maiden National Women’s Summit at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, where the party’s National Chairman, Chief Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa (Ezenwata Umuchu) reaffirmed APGA’s unwavering commitment to advancing women’s inclusion, leadership, and active participation in governance.
The summit, the first National Women’s Summit to be hosted by any political party in Nigeria, attracted eminent Nigerians from across the country, bringing together women leaders, policymakers, traditional rulers, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organisations, development partners, and party faithful to deliberate on strategies for strengthening women’s political participation and deepening inclusive governance in Nigeria.
In his remarks, the APGA National Chairman stated that the summit had reaffirmed that women’s inclusion is not merely a moral obligation but a democratic necessity and a strategic imperative for national development
He urged that the communiqué and resolutions reached during the summit should serve as practical instruments for expanding women’s participation within APGA and across Nigeria, stressing that they must be translated into concrete policies, measurable reforms, and sustainable institutional change.
According to him, APGA’s commitment to women is rooted in the party’s enduring philosophy of justice, equity, fairness, inclusiveness, and people-oriented governance.
The APGA National Chairman noted that the summit had once again demonstrated that APGA remains Nigeria’s foremost progressive political party, firmly committed to inclusive governance, social justice, human capital development, and equal opportunities for all Nigerians, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or religion.
The event was graced by APGA National Leader and Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim; the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Summit, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; and the keynote Speaker, Dame Pauline Tallen, CON, KSG.
Other dignitaries included members of the distinguished panel of discussants and panelists, among them the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Dr. George Akume, CON (represented); the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim (represented); the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad (represented); IPAC National Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle; Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Somto Udeze; Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon Kafilat Ogbara; Most Rev Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah; Chief Osita Chidoka, OFR; Dr. Nenadi Usman; and several other eminent public office holders, policymakers, development partners, civil society leaders, and stakeholders from across the country.
