AN APPRAISAL OF NIGERIAN WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN NATIONAL POLITICS SINCE THE BEIJING CONFERENCE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OF 1995

Historically, it has been observed that women’s participation in politics is low globally. This global challenge has gained attention at every level. In Nigeria, the challenge of women’s low participation in politics has become a norm, which also calls for attention. The Beijing conference marked a pivotal moment in global advocacy in gender equality, women empowerment, leading to the implementation of various affirmative action. This was a platform where hindrances to women’s global participation in global politics and other women’s right were addressed, with participating states committing themselves to the final outcome of the conference. Nigeria being one of the signatories to the Beijing conference has pledged its commitment to domesticating and achieving its principles. This study aims to explore Nigerian women participation in national politics since the Beijing conference affirmative action of 1995. Using historical method to analyze the oral interviews, primary sources and other secondary sources. The findings unravels Nigeria’s attempts to implement the affirmative action on women’s participation in national politics since the General Sani Abacha’s era and established that the steps taken so far has not yielded the intended results.