On the 19th of July, 2025, Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Gender Mainstreaming, Cross River State, alongside Gender Desk Officers from all 18 Local Government Areas in the state, participated in the South-South Zonal Public Hearing on the Reserved Seats Bill for Women at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar.
The Bill, championed by the House of Representatives, seeks to secure dedicated legislative seats for women in Nigeria’s National and State Assemblies—a significant step toward closing the gender gap in political representation and ensuring that women have a stronger voice in shaping policies and governance.
Utibe-Abasi Bassey-Duke used her office to mobilize the Gender Desk Officers to ensure that Cross River State’s support for the Bill was visible and strongly felt. During the hearing, Utibe-Abasi brought momentum and support to the advocacy for the Bill, and the collective presence of the Cross River delegation sent a powerful message from the grassroots to the national level: women deserve equitable representation in governance.
She emphasized that women’s political participation is not just a gender issue but a development necessity. When women are part of decision-making, policies become more inclusive, governance improves, and communities thrive.
The South-South public hearing served as a rallying point for change, and Cross River State stood out in reaffirming its commitment to driving gender equality in politics.
The time is now support the Reserved Seats Bill and help build a Nigeria where women have an equal voice in governance.
