House Committee To Launch “Art For Governance” Exhibition On Gender Inclusion

The House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, is set to launch an exhibition titled “Art for Governance” next month to promote gender inclusion.

This initiative is a collaborative effort with Advocacy for Civic Engagement Centre, ElectHER, and the National Assembly Library.

According to Kalu, the exhibition aims to harness the power of art to inspire critical conversations on governance, inclusion, and nation-building.

The event will showcase artworks that reflect themes of female empowerment, fostering dialogue on how governance can be more inclusive and representative for all citizens.

This initiative is part of the committee’s efforts to address the low representation of women in Nigeria’s legislative houses. The committee’s focus on gender inclusion is in line with its broader objectives, which include promoting inclusivity and greater equity and women representation in appointive and electiive positions.

Kalu emphasized that the lawmakers are committed to redressing this anomaly through the Gender Bills, which include the Constitution (Alteration) Bill, 2024.

This bill seeks to reserve seats for women in the Nigerian National and State Houses of Assembly.

He revealed further that in addition to the exhibition, Constitution Review Committee plans to hold 12 regional and national public hearings to optimize advocacy and understand cultural inhibitions that impede women’s participation in governance.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited by Shakirah Alabi