Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), with support from Co-Impact, on Wednesday convened a state-level consultation in Sokoto aimed at examining the career progression and leadership opportunities available to women within Nigeria’s judiciary.
The one-day engagement, themed “Probing Women’s Career Progression and Leadership Pathways in the Judiciary,” brought together judicial officers, legal practitioners and stakeholders to discuss challenges affecting women’s advancement in the legal profession and identify practical solutions to improve representation at leadership levels.
In her welcome address, the Country Vice President/National President of FIDA Nigeria, Eliana Martins, represented by FIDA’s Country Vice President Emerita, Mrs. Amina Suzanah Agbaje, expressed concern over the persistent gender imbalance in the legal profession.
She stressed that the organisation’s advocacy is focused on fairness and inclusion rather than preferential treatment.
According to her, women remain significantly underrepresented in the leadership structure of Nigeria’s judiciary despite their growing numbers within the legal profession.
Mrs. Agbaje noted that only four of the Justices of the Supreme Court are women, describing the situation as evidence of the need for sustained advocacy and institutional reforms.
“This dialogue supported by our partner Co-Impact provides the platform to probe women’s barriers and experiences in their career trajectory ranging from entry, retention, progression, thriving and leadership roles while advancing gender equity within the judiciary,” Eliana Martins submitted.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of FIDA Sokoto State, Barrister Zainab Aliyu, acknowledged the progress recorded in increasing female participation in the legal profession but maintained that more work remains to be done to ensure women attain leadership positions within the judiciary.
She emphasized the need for deliberate efforts to create an environment where women can advance professionally and contribute meaningfully to judicial leadership and decision-making processes.
Providing an overview of the consultation and its expected outcomes, the Project Team Lead, Mr. Ezekiel Godbless Nandom, said the current situation calls for intensified advocacy, awareness creation and policy-driven interventions to address existing barriers.
Participants were also taken through discussions on the various stages of career development in the judiciary, including entry into the profession, workplace experiences, career advancement, leadership opportunities and participation in decision-making roles.
The session, facilitated by representatives of the FIDA national leadership, explored practical pathways for improving women’s progression within the judiciary.
During brainstorming and prioritisation sessions, participants examined short-, medium- and long-term measures capable of ensuring smoother career advancement for women in the legal and judicial sectors.
Among the key recommendations were institutional reforms aimed at removing structural barriers and the strengthening of support systems to help women lawyers navigate professional challenges and attain leadership positions within the judiciary.
