In the vibrant tapestry of Nigeria’s National Assembly, a group of dynamic women stands as the unsung heroines, quietly shaping the nation’s legislative landscape. These female lawmakers, often working behind the scenes, have been instrumental in driving significant policy changes and advocating for the marginalized, yet their contributions frequently go unnoticed.

Like a chicken whose feathers make it difficult to know that the bird is sweating, female Senators like their male counterparts keep the flag flying. There are four women in a Senate with 109 members. They Ireti Heebah Kingibe (FCT) Labour Party, Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers West) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Lagos) All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduagan, (Kogi Central) Peoples Democratic Party.

The impact of these women extends beyond their legislative achievements. They serve as role models and mentors for young girls and women across Nigeria, demonstrating that with determination and hard work, they too can rise to positions of influence and effect change.

Senator Harry Ipalibo Banigo
A medical doctor by profession but a formidable force in advocating for education reform in the Senate chamber. She was a former Deputy Governor in Rivers State, the first female to attain that height. She served for eight years in that capacity. She had earlier served as Commissioner for Health and Secretary to the State Government. She was elected a Senator representing Rivers West Senatorial district, Senator Banigo has been a vocal proponent for increased funding in public schools and has introduced several bills to improve educational infrastructure and teacher training.

Senator Ipalibo

Among the bills she sponsored include the National Vocational Centre (establishment) Bill 2023, Federal Institute of Vision and Optical Research, Eneme, Ogbara – Egbema Ndoni, Rivers State (Establishment) Bill 2024, Electricity Act(Amendment) Bill 2023, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Compulsory Treatment and Care of Gunshots Act(Amendment) Bill 2023 and Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill 2023.

She also moved a motion on the urgent need to mitigate the adverse effects of sugar-sweetened Beverage (SSB) consumption on Public health and enhance revenue generation through excise taxation, with emphasis on collaboration, synergy, and accountability between Government ministries and industry stakeholders in promoting healthier beverage options and sustainable practices.

Senator Banigo is the Chairperson, of Health (Secondary and Tertiary) and Vice Chairperson of, the Committee on Women Affairs.

Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe
Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senatorial district has emerged as a key player in the fight for women’s rights and gender equality. She is currently the Chairperson of the Women Affairs Senate Committee and Vice Chairman, of Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare; Health (Secondary & Tertiary). As a Senator on the ticket of the Labour Party (LP), she has presented some quality bills and moved motions to make her constituents and indeed Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.

Senator Kingibe

She has championed legislation to protect women from domestic violence and ensure better maternal health care. On 30 November 2023, she sponsored a motion to end violence against women in the country. Sixteen other senators joined her in sponsoring the motion. She also sponsored a bill titled: Federal Capital Territory (FCT) School of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Bill, 2023. Her dedication to these causes has earned her respect across party lines, yet her name rarely makes the headlines.

She has proven to be a real Amazon squaring up with the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike over policy direction and administration in the federal capital. Kingibe and Wike have been engaging each other in a public row with the Minister threatening the Senator that she will not spend more than one term in the Senate. The Senator had earlier called attention that the problem in Abuja goes beyond transportation. She wants the Minister to pay attention to issues of education and healthcare among others.

Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduagan
She came a bit late to take her seat in the Red Chamber (November 2023 instead of June) because she had to fight a legal battle to regain her victory at the polls which was earlier awarded to her opponent in the All Progressives Congress. The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on October 31, 2023, affirmed her legitimacy as the winner of the Kogi Central senatorial election. She equally faced all sorts of obstacles planted on her way by the former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Representing Kogi Central Senatorial district, she has focused her legislative work on the economy and how to empower people in places where mineral resources are located and mined. Her bill titled Nigeria Gold Reserve Bill, 2024 has passed a second reading. The Bill seeks a robust framework for the harnessing, exploitation, and marketing of gold which is about 600,000 tonnes in reserves in the country worth $45 billion.

She has also presented the Nigeria Cottage Industries (Establishment) Bill, 2023. Senator Akpoti- Uduagan who is barely eight months in the Senate is the Senate Committee Chairperson, Local Content.

As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the federal government to allow 100 per cent of local manufacturing of military kits to generate revenue for the country.

“I am speaking as the Chairman of the Local Content Committee. It is my greatest desire to see that our local industries are being utilized in the manufacturing of boots and uniforms”, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan stressed while presenting the Bill on Cottage Industries (Establishment) Bill,2023.

For her resilience, acumen and tenacity, which eventually saw her taking a seat in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the face of stiff opposition in today’s intricate tapestry of Nigerian politics where only a few women are allowed to shine brightly, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was named Politician of the Year 2023 by Leadership Newspaper.

Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti
Another distinguished Amazon is Senator Adebule Idiat Oluranti the Chairperson Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals. Among the bills she has presented include: The Proceeds of Crime Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2024 and Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act (Amendment) Bill 2023.

Senator Adebule

Idiat Oluranti Adebule is a writer, Educationalist, and Nigerian politician who currently serves as Senator representing Lagos West senatorial district since 2023 in the 10th National Assembly. She is serving as an unwavering advocate for educational reform and socio-economic progress in the Senate. She was a former Deputy Governor to Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos State.

Senator Adebule was a prime mover of a motion urging the Federal and state governments to initiate programmes targeted towards alleviating the challenges of out-of-school children. Following its successive passage, the upper chamber mandated its Committees on Education (Basic & Secondary) to engage the Federal Ministry of Education to pay special attention to the issue of out-of-school children with the ultimate objective of drastically reducing the number

These resolutions of the Senate followed a motion on “Compelling Need to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” sponsored by Sen. Adebule Idiat Oluranti (Lagos West). The Red Chamber consequently asked the Federal government to set a time limit of two years for the diligent implementation of the UBE Act as stipulated in section 2 (2). It equally urged the Judiciary in the 36 States of the Federation to take steps towards setting up mobile courts to enforce the UBE ACT.

Despite their significant contributions, these women often face considerable challenges, including gender bias and a political culture that can be resistant to change. Yet, they remain undeterred, driven by a deep commitment to their constituents and the nation at large.

As Nigeria continues to navigate its path toward development, the role of these unsung Amazons of the National Assembly becomes increasingly crucial.