Veteran Nollywood Actress, Joke Silva, has articulated her deep-seated concern regarding the conspicuous dearth of women in key leadership positions within Nigeria, with a particular emphasis on the political landscape. In a poignant reflection, Silva lamented the stark contrast to a bygone era when women held significant sway in leadership roles, especially during the pre-independent period of Nigeria’s history.
The iconic actress drew attention to the noticeable decline in the presence and influence of women in contemporary Nigerian politics. In her poignant commentary, Silva bemoaned the fact that, despite a historical legacy of women at the forefront of leadership, recent times have witnessed a diminution in their political standing.
A focal point of Silva’s discussion was the palpable absence of democratically elected female governors in Nigeria. She cited the case of Virginia Ngozi Etiaba, who assumed the gubernatorial role in Anambra State in 2006.
Speaking in a recent interview with TVC, Silva said: “In the area of leadership, especially political leadership, women have regressed. I mean, we had some really powerful women. You mentioned Fumilayo Kuti earlier. All these powerful women. There were so many of them spread around the nation. So, you expect them to grow in numbers by now.
“At least by now, we should have had a female governor. Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu for one, in contemporary Nigerian politics, is probably the most experienced female politician. She was just in the Senate for a long time and now she is the First Lady. But the thing is this: how many others? But we have so many male senators. It goes back to what late Chief MKO Abiola used to say: ‘A nation clapping with one hand.’ How do you clap? How is it heard?”
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