Earlier today in Lagos, Nigeria, @Kimpact Development Initiative with support from Government of Canada through UN Women & FCDO hosted a Media Engagement & Celebrity Townhall on Women’s Political Participation, themed “Stronger Together: Special Seats for an Inclusive Democracy.” The engaging event which witnessed quite a number of heforshe advocates including Kimpact's Executive Director - Bukola Idowu, Speaker Oyo state House of Assembly - Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin; Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters - Hon. Bayo Balogun and the UN Women Country Rep. Other notable attendees included Gender Expert - Dr. Ejiro Otive, key legislators, influencers, media and big screen veterans: Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Agatha Amata, Joke Silver, Kate Henshaw and a host of others. The gathering aimed to push for the Special Seats Bill, advance women’s leadership, and foster a more inclusive political system in Nigeria. This is particularly crucial as Nigeria currently ranks 54th in the world for gender parity, according to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report. The keynote speaker, along with a dynamic panel, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the underrepresentation of women in political seats, which currently sits just 17%, far below the 35% legislated target for political participation. Key action points from the #sidebyside event included: ensuring women’s representation in executive roles within political structures where decisions are made | Create continuous convergence with the aim of disrupting the political space and making room for women | and creating more advocacy efforts to maintain momentum toward gender inclusivity in politics.