President Tinubu Should Give Our Women a Chance to Rule! Women on Rescue Mission! - Olufemi Orunsola 

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Nigeria is basking in the euphoria of the back-to-back feats and victories of her women in continental football and basketball.

Beyond the popular saying in the social circles that "What the men can do, women can do better", recent developments in African sports may be a pointer to what Nigeria as a country needs to do to regain her pride of place in the global scheme of affairs - give our women the chance to rule!

The lyrics, rhythms ahd melodies of a purely pro-women track waxed by popular Nigerian Afro-Juju inventor and maestro, Sir Shina Peters, which ruled the airwaves in the late 80s and early 90s reverberates in my mind as I reflect on the impressive feats and national pride done to Nigeria in recent times by her women, undoubtedly repositioning the country as the giant of Africa, in the world of sports.

In Sir Shina Peters' words of musical advocacy for Nigerian women, he had sung in his Shinamania (Afro-Juju Series 2): Permit me to write our the lyrics of the song here as follows: 

"Na wah ooooo.

Na wah for African men!

Na wah oooooo.

Na wah for Nigerian men!

Give our women chance to talk o.

Give our women a chance to rule.......".

He further affirmed that:

"In Nigeria, there are women of knowledge.

North and South,

There are women of success.

East o, West o

Give them a chance to deliver the goods 

I beg oooooooo.........."

If we reflect deeply about the recent exploits of Nigeria women in repositioning the most populous African country to her rightful place as the giant  of Africa in women'sAthletics, a visible reference point that may further drive home the point that Nigeria seriously needs to recognize and harness not just her human resources but specifically her woman resources comes from Africa's richest man who is a Nigerian, Aliko Dangote who has in recent years, been strategic and international about steadily integrating his three daughters into his self succession plan and the sustainability of his growing business empire.

Aliko Dangote's Daughters Example

According to published information in Africa Report, and (Daily Trust dated August 2, 2025), way back in 2019, at an event in Lagos, Nigeria's Forbes-rated Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, highlighted the contribution of his daughters to the group.

The Nigerian billionaire estimated by Bloomberg to be worth $28.5bn as of 28 July, has quietly begun stepping back from boardroom duties.

Instructively also is the realization of the fact that Aliko Dangote has openly credited his entrepreneurial acumen to his mother, whom he described as “a strong business-minded woman” who nurtured his ambition. This fact, coupled with the incontrovertible contributions of women who dominate the entire MSMEs landscape of the country, turning on huge contributions rated at no less than 75 -80% of the countries Gross Domestic Production (GDP), there is certainly something thick about Nigerian women that the country is yet to fully uncover and fully harness.

In Dangote's words, “My three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima, are all senior executives at the group, and I can tell you for a fact that they are critical to the success of our business."

The point then is this, if Dangote could entrust his multi-billion business empire to his daughters whom recorda show, have been doing excellently well, why can't Nigeria do the same with what I insist to call "her woman resources"?

I know that many male chavunists may quickly counter my advocacy for Nigeria to give more place and attention to women in the political and economic spheres of the country’s existence with the counterpoint that indeed, there a pockets of women who had been given opportunities for leadership in the country in the past yet performed woefully below expectations. One or two of such women ended up with scandalously incredible weight of corruption charges and abuse of public office hanging on their necks years after leaving office. That is a fact of history that cannot be erased but it does not ultimately wipe out the out the towering positive influences and impressive performances of a roll call of Nigerian women in political and non political offices.

The fact remains that the brilliant shining examples of many Nigerian women like the late Director General of the National Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili as well as the current DG of NAFDAC, Prof.Moji Adeyeye, who has been unarguably, another tireless woman who has been making positive impacts in the country.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala 

Another reference point is Nigeria's multiple tenured Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is the seventh director-general of the WTO. She took office on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve as Director-General. As her first term of office expires on 31 August 2025, it would be recalled that on 29 November 2024, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was reappointed as Director-General for a second four-year term, set to begin on 1 September 2025.

Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa 

Hon. Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri-Erewa (OON) is another shining reference point on the possible exploits of Nigerian women as the Chairperson of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has been performing impressively.

Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa is a Nigerian politician and former member of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Constituency in Lagos state. She was the Chairman of the House Committee on Media & Publicity.

She has, on several occasions, been described as a sterling Nigerian amazon, an outstandingly brilliant broadcaster who later transmitted to an outstandingly brilliant parliamentarian. A worthy,compassionate, fair, firm, respected, and courageous leader. Fondly called ”Mother of Teresa of the tube” because of her compassion for the less privileged, and now ”Lady Diaspora” for her pioneering efforts in putting Nigeria's Diaspora Affairs in the news for all the right reasons.

Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili 

Obiageli "Oby" Ezekwesili, a Nigerian economic policy expert, an advocate for transparency, accountability, good governance and human capital development, a humanitarian and an activist. She is a former vice president for the World Bank (Africa region), co-founder and founding director of Transparency International, co-founder of the #BringBackOurGirls movement and has served twice as federal Minister in Nigeria.[1] She is also the founder of #FixPolitics Initiative, a research-based citizen-led initiative,[2] the School of Politics Policy and Governance (SPPG and Human Capital Africa.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan 

As controversial as she may be seen in some quarters, Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan comes along as another reference point of the possible power of women in changing the narratives of leadership in Nigeria. 

She is the first elected female senator in the history of Kogi State.

As a politician and lawyer who serves as a member of the 10th Nigeria National Assembly representing Kogi Central Senatorial District since 2023 with an impressive track record of delivering dividends of democracy tj her constituency consistently. Although she contested for Governorship of Kogi State under the number of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2019 but lost the election, she remained determined and courageous enough to contest as Kogi Central Senator in 2023.

Women on a Rescue Mission Beyond the Football Pitches and the Basketball Courts

It is against the backdrop of this realization that I personally challenge and humbly counsel President Tinubu to go beyond celebrating the wins of Nigerian women in the world of sports. Mr. President should take a clue from the handwriting on the wall. He should give our women of substance a place of pride in his Renewed Hope Agenda by appointing more women to man strategic political and public offices. 

My Open Appeal to President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take some time off his duties to listen critically to that evergreen song by Sir Shina Peters and go back to the drawing boards to map out a blueprint for harnessing the strategic roles Nigerian women could play in putting the country on the right track politically and economically.

As the country rightfully bask innthe euphoria of the current victory with Nigerian Women Basketball Team beating Mali 78–64, during the final match which took place on Sunday, barely some days after Nigerian Women Footballers floored Morocco, it is time for Nigeria to pause, ponder and re-strategize.

No doubt, Nigeria's female athletes have made a loud statement about their capacity as they continue to raise the national flag high with back-to-back wins in international sports competitions, proving that the women’s teams are a force to be reckoned with, not just in African sports but in other spheres of Influence in the society.

In all, these wins by young talented and skilful Nigerian women simply spotlight the growing success of Nigerian women not only in both football and basketball but it bears testament to the capacity, skill, dedication, and resilience of Nigerian women

Beyond the current waves of celebrating our female athletes, therefore, President Bola Tinubu should decisively pave more ways for more Nigerian women to deliver similar wins to the credit of the country in the political and economic landscapes the same way they have been doing on the football fields and the basketball court.

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Olufemi Orunsola, a Media Entrepreneur and Consultant, is the CEO OTN News. He writes from Abeokuta, the Ogun state capita, Nigeria, West Africa.