Reykjavik index shows Nigerians support women leaders, but systems lag
Advocacy groups have called on governments, regulators, and employers to adopt deliberate measures to increase women’s leadership across sectors, warning that public support alone is insufficient. They urged at least
- ...as advocates call for 35% women’s representation across politics, corporate Nigeria
Advocacy groups have called on governments, regulators, and employers to adopt deliberate measures to increase women’s leadership across sectors, warning that public support alone is insufficient.
They urged at least 35 percent female representation in federal and state executive councils, corporate boards and political offices, alongside policies to strengthen the care economy, including 16 weeks of paid maternity leave and a minimum of two weeks of paternity leave.
The call followed a virtual presentation of the Reykjavik Index for Leadership 2025 on Thursday by Gatefield, which shows that nine in 10 Nigerians believe women can lead, while 77 percent are comfortable with a woman serving as head of government.
“Most Nigerians support women in leadership, but institutional systems have yet to reflect that acceptance.
“Although nine in 10 Nigerians believe women are capable of leading major institutions, and 89 percent are comfortable with women as chief executives, only 55 percent believe gender equality exists in the workplace.
"There is a clear gap between perception and reality,” said Shirley Ewang, Lead Advocate at Gatefield.
The index, which measures public perception of leadership suitability across 23 sectors, found strong performance in banking and finance, education and pharmaceuticals, identified as “champion sectors.”
Banking and finance recorded one of the highest scores, reflecting increasing representation of women in leadership.
However, sectors such as childcare and fashion ranked among the lowest, with childcare recording the weakest score of 33 out of 100, highlighting the persistent undervaluation of sectors largely driven by women, Ewang said.
“There is strong societal acceptance of women in leadership, but the systems are not yet aligned. We need policies and institutional mechanisms to create clear leadership pathways for women and ensure accountability,” she noted.
Ewang also highlighted disparities between corporate and political leadership, noting that while women occupy nearly one in three board seats in Nigeria’s largest companies, they hold only about 4.2 percent of parliamentary seats.
Rachel Pindar, Technical Lead at the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), said women hold only 4.5 percent of National Assembly seats, including four of 109 Senate seats and 17 seats in the House of Representatives, while no woman has ever been elected state governor.
"Women currently occupy just 8.8 percent of ministerial positions, down from 17.6 percent in 2024.
“At NGF, our call to action is clear, States should ensure at least 35 percent representation of women in state cabinets so leadership moves from policy commitment to consistent practice.
"Governments should set clear timelines, institutionalise transparent nomination processes, and support women through mentorship and leadership development programmes,” Pindar said.
Itunuoluwa Hunga, the Communications and Partnerships Lead at Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WILAN) said public perception is no longer the main barrier.
“The challenge now is converting support into political power through voter behaviour, candidate selection, party structures, and appointment processes. Historical trends show that even when women run, systemic barriers reduce their chances of election,” she said.
Childcare and caregiving responsibilities were also highlighted as major obstacles by Blessing Adesiyan, Founder and CEO of Caring Africa, who said women’s ability to work and pursue leadership roles is closely linked to access to reliable childcare.
“Women cannot work or advance if they do not have childcare. Support is needed for all parents since 70 to 80 percent of Nigerian employees have caregiving responsibilities.
"Unlike developed countries, much of Nigeria’s care system is informal and unreliable. Leaders must treat care as an economic investment, supporting childcare, elder care and disability care because without guaranteed care, women cannot fully participate in leadership," Adesiyan said.
Ekemini Akpakpan, Executive Secretary of Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR), highlighted gender imbalance in the judiciary, saying, “The sector scored 61 out of 100 on the Reykjavik Index, down three points from last year.
"Women account for 33 percent of state judges, six percent of federal judges, and fewer than five percent of Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“This reflects structural barriers rather than a lack of talent. Transparent promotion pathways, representation benchmarks, and mentorship programmes are critical".
Highlighting the banking sector as a model, Omowunmi Akingbohungbe of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ) cited the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2013 Sustainable Banking Principles, which mandated 30 per cent female board representation and 40 per cent in senior management.
“More than a decade later, women now hold over 35 percent of senior management roles. This demonstrates the impact of deliberate policy interventions.
“Although awareness of gender equality is growing, perceptions of progress are declining. Women-led sectors should not be treated as optional, they are key economic drivers.
"Leaders must deliberately apply a gender lens to recruitment, promotion and leadership appointments. Women’s leadership should be treated not as a social initiative but as a governance and growth strategy.
"WIMBIZ and the Women in Leadership Coalition are calling for at least 35 percent female representation on boards and executive management, particularly in companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group," Akingbohungbe added.
