This report captures the outcomes of the high-level National Summit on Women’s Constitutional Inclusion in Governance, organized by Centre LSD with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office through PLAC. Held on August 22, 2024, the summit brought together over 100 key stakeholders from the National Assembly, civil society, media, traditional and religious institutions, and international partners to discuss strategic pathways for securing women’s inclusion in Nigeria’s governance structures.

The summit responded to persistent constitutional and legislative barriers to women's political participation, especially following the rejection of five pro-women bills by the 9th National Assembly. Discussions included reflections on historical exclusion, global best practices, and structural reforms needed to ensure gender parity. Presentations by Prof. Oluwafunmilayo Para-Mallam and Barr. Ebere Ifendu set the tone for rich debates, focusing on legal amendments, advocacy strategies, and inclusive governance frameworks.

Participants emphasized the need for a constitutional review to remove discriminatory clauses, the use of special legislative measures (e.g., gender quotas), cross-party and cross-sector coalition building, and grassroots mobilization. The summit also called for reframing the conversation from equality versus equity to transformative representation that ensures real political empowerment for women.

This report offers actionable insights and a unified advocacy direction for civil society actors, legislators, and gender advocates committed to reshaping Nigeria’s constitutional framework to be more inclusive, just, and representative.