By Umar Faruk
Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, May 12, 2026 (Series News Online)- The International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria, organized a consultative forum in Kebbi State on Tuesday to examine obstacles limiting women’s advancement in the judiciary and to advocate reforms that promote inclusion.
The one-day event was held at Saffar Hotel in Birnin Kebbi. Participants included female High Court judges, female magistrates, female lawyers from the Ministry of Justice, members of FIDA, and invited dignitaries. Also present were retired High Court Judge Hon. Justice Samaila Bashar, the Kebbi State Chief Judge, who was represented by the Chief Registrar of the High Court, and the Commissioner for Justice, who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Aishatu Abbas, among other dignitaries.
At the opening session, FIDA Nigeria Country Vice President and National President, Mrs. Eliana Martins, said the meeting aimed to strengthen women’s participation and professional growth within the Nigerian judiciary through targeted institutional changes.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council, and staff of FIDA Nigeria, I warmly welcome you to this consultative dialogue with female judicial officers,” Martins said.
She explained that the programme, supported by Co-Impact, was designed to assess the challenges women encounter throughout their judicial careers, including recruitment, retention, advancement, leadership, and overall professional fulfillment.
“Although Nigeria has made progress since independence and more women are entering legal education and practice, gender disparity in the judiciary remains a major challenge,” Martins said.
She cited the appointments of Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar as Nigeria’s first female Chief Justice and Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa as the first female President of the Court of Appeal as historic but isolated milestones.
“While women’s empowerment has advanced globally and regionally, the representation of Nigerian women in the judiciary is still disproportionately low,” she said.
Martins noted that despite having a female Chief Justice at present, only four of the 13 justices on the Supreme Court are women, accounting for 31 percent. She added that the 2024 appointment was significant but did not address the deeper structural imbalance.
She attributed the persistent gap to entrenched socio-cultural attitudes, biased workplace practices, and inadequate institutional protections. Specific barriers, she said, include unclear promotion processes, dominant patriarchal norms, insufficient mentorship, and stereotypes questioning women’s competence, particularly in matters of customary and Islamic law.
“This forum will enable us to gain clearer insight into the career experiences of women in the judiciary and the reasons for their limited representation in leadership,” Martins said. “We are documenting and analyzing, state by state, the challenges faced by female judicial officers to lay the foundation for a more inclusive system.”
Martins described the engagement as a vital step toward evidence-based reforms grounded in fairness and gender justice. She thanked Co-Impact for its support and urged participants to engage fully in the discussions.
In her remarks, FIDA Kebbi State Chairperson, Mrs. Hauwa Usman Usara, welcomed the national delegation and commended the decision to hold the training in the state.
“We are grateful for your choice to convene this one-day training in Kebbi, the land of equity,” Usara said. “Thirty-five participants are taking part in the session.”
She encouraged attendees to contribute openly, assuring them that all contributions would remain confidential. “Please share your experiences freely. What you disclose will help us identify the gaps affecting female judicial officers and guide appropriate solutions for career progression and leadership pathways,” she said.
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Judiciary