By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

In a bold move to confront Nigeria’s glaring underrepresentation of women in politics, TOS Foundation Africa, in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria, has launched the HerCademy Legislative Mentorship Programme,an initiative aimed at equipping women with the tools to win elections and lead effectively.

Unveiled amid growing calls for inclusive governance, the programme seeks to move beyond rhetoric and tackle structural barriers that have long limited women’s political participation.

Founder of TOS Foundation Africa, Osasu Igbinedion-Ogwuche, set the tone with a strong message: Nigeria is not short of capable women but lacks enabling systems that support them to lead and succeed.

“HerCademy is not just about participation; it is about power,” she declared, stressing the need to prepare women to understand legislative processes, navigate political systems, and deliver results once in office.

The six-week intensive programme brings together aspiring female leaders nationwide for hands-on training, mentorship, and legislative simulations designed to sharpen their political and leadership skills.

Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, Switzerland’s Chargé d’Affaires to Nigeria, Mr. Siamak Rouhani, revealed that women currently occupy less than five per cent of seats in Nigeria’s National Assembly,the lowest rate in Africa.

“Investing in aspiring female parliamentarians is critical to building inclusive governance, which remains the foundation of a stable and prosperous society,” he said.

A key moment at the launch was a fireside conversation featuring British Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever and Dr. Adanna Steinacker, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health.

Lever underscored the realities women face in leadership, noting that securing political office is only the beginning.

“Effective leadership is defined by what happens after you win,how you navigate systems that were not designed for you and still deliver results,” she said, adding that power for women is often negotiated rather than freely given.

The programme boasts a distinguished lineup of facilitators, including Barrister Chimdi Nelachukwu, Special Assistant to the Speaker on Policy and Innovation; Dr. Chidozie Aja, Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Legislative Affairs; and Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre.

Participants will receive practical training in legislative procedures, policy development, and political strategy,positioning them not only to contest elections but to govern with competence and clarity.

As Nigeria grapples with the disconnect between constitutional equality and political reality, HerCademy emerges as a strategic intervention aimed at ensuring more women are not just elected, but fully prepared to lead and deliver impactful governance.