Odumegwu-Ojukwu Charges Women To Break Political Barriers, Change Mindset
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has expressed concern over the continued marginalisation of women in politics, urging women to shift mindsets and challenge societal norms limiting their progress.
Speaking at a panel during Nigerian Women’s Day, held on the sidelines of the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that women often become their own obstacles, failing to support female candidates at the polls.
“In African societies, women are the praise singers when men contest elections, but struggle to rally behind their own. That mindset must change,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also decried the cultural and structural barriers women face when seeking elective positions, including being judged based on their marital or ethnic background.
Reflecting on her personal journey, she cautioned young women against abandoning education in pursuit of early success. “Earning money early can be tempting, but staying in school is one of the most powerful choices a woman can make,” she said.
A statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze, quoted the Minister as commending the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for supporting the event and urged women to push for lasting change.
