Nigeria passionate about women, PLWDs’ inclusion — Speaker Tajudeen tells British envoy

…as Hollywood star launches NGO on women protection, self-defence

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday informed the new British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles, about efforts by the Nigerian parliament to promote the inclusion of women and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) in political governance.

The Speaker made this known in Abuja on Tuesday while hosting guests on separate courtesy visits.

Tajudeen noted that, as part of its efforts, the House had sought the backing of President Bola Tinubu for bills seeking to reserve legislative seats for women and PLWDs in the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

The first visitor was the new British High Commissioner, Vowles, who was accompanied by the Political Counsellor, Greta Morris, and the Governance Adviser, Matthew Ayibakuro.

The second visit was by renowned Hollywood actor and founder of Guardian Girls International, Mr Shin Koyamada, who led a delegation comprising the President of Guardian Girls Africa, Ambassador Mary Ehi Obande; the President of Guardian Girls Nigeria, Dr Ruqayya Ahmed; the Secretary-General of Guardian Girls Nigeria, Ambassador Aisha Alhassan; and the organisation’s legal adviser, Barrister Mike Patrick.

Welcoming the newly posted envoy to the People’s House and Nigeria, Tajudeen noted that the House was among the first Nigerian institutions visited by Vowles.

The Speaker informed the British High Commissioner that women’s representation was one key area in which Nigeria lagged behind the rest of the world, noting that bills aimed at reversing the trend were at various stages of consideration.

Disclosing that the legislature had lobbied the executive arm of government “to be part of this history”, Tajudeen said: “This initiative is going to be an innovation that has not been tested in any part of the world.”

Unlike the conventional voting system, the Speaker explained that women and PLWDs would be selected through a form of electoral college.

“Women and persons living with disabilities will be elected by elected officials,” he said, stressing that “this will significantly increase the participation of women in parliament”.

Tajudeen also told the British envoy that President Tinubu had adopted the bills, which would be transmitted to the National Assembly as executive bills.

Noting that the UK had long been committed to democracy, inclusion and equal opportunities, the Speaker said: “I want you to know that we are equally passionate, like the UK.”

Tajudeen told Vowles that the doors of the House remained open to the UK for strategic engagement and advisory support.

Earlier, Vowles, who described himself as the “Brand New British High Commissioner to Nigeria”, said he had been posted to Nigeria about four weeks earlier.

The envoy noted the deep relationship between the UK and Nigeria, adding that the courtesy call on the Speaker was to “pay respect to your office and to know what we can do together”.

Similarly, during a separate courtesy call, Koyamada said the visit was to inform the Speaker about the launch of Guardian Girls Nigeria (GGN), which would feature receptions and self-defence seminars organised in collaboration with the embassies of Japan and Vietnam and the National Martial Arts Federations.

Koyamada, who said he was originally from Japan, explained that he had spent 26 years in the United States, where he began his Hollywood career, before returning to Japan to establish Guardian Girls International.

He said the NGO was active in more than 20 countries and worked with UN agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), diplomatic missions and sports federations, using self-defence, sports and education to protect women and girls from gender-based violence (GBV).

The Last Samurai actor also said he founded the NGO to advance gender equality and campaign against gender-based violence. He added that the organisation had partnered with United Nations bodies, sports governing institutions and other NGOs.

He said Guardian Girls International focused on initiatives to prevent GBV and empower girls, particularly through education.

“Today, we are launching Guardian Girls Nigeria in Abuja,” he said, outlining the activities planned ahead of the inauguration. Koyamada also disclosed that his NGO had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with relevant partners in Nigeria.