Judges Seek Solutions to Barriers Against Women in Legal Profession

By Murtala Adewale, Kano

The National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) has advocated policy and strategy dimension that will bridge the barriers limiting women from reaching the zenith of their career in the legal profession.

Although, the association affirmed that female practitioners in the bench and the bar have critical role to promote sensitive policy towards the course of Justice system in Nigeria, however worried over certain clog in the wheel of growth of female gender in the judiciary.

Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Kubura M. O Kekere-Ekun who made the assertion yesterday in Kano, worried that women in the legal profession are still nursing a barrier that believed certain positions are more suited to the male gender.

Justice Kekere-Ekun who doubles as president of NAWJN said while the association is confident that women are being occupying leadership positions in some capacities, insisted “it is not yet Uhuru”. She spoke at the opening of two day North West zonal workshops of NAWJN being hosted by Kano state government.

According to the supreme Court Justice, women in the judiciary are still battling with “domestic impediments, difficulty in mentaining the work life balance, lack of support in the home, working conditions not favorably to women such as posting out of the reach of their families, gender bias, the believe that certain positions are more suited to the male gender, lack of mentorship programs to leadership”.

In an effort to address some of the predicament, Justice Kekere-Ekun said NAWJN is partnering with Co-Impact, a philanthropic collaborative fund to develop and implement a multi year program that enable, support and promotion sustainable leadership skill for women in leadership circle.

She said the initiative will be implemented in collaboration with affiliate associations in five countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, Kenya and PhilippinesPhilippines, that seems to address and work out strategies to overcome barriers confronting women in leadership position.

With the theme of the workshop, ” Breaking Leadership Barriers for Women in the Legal Profession”, the NAWJN President said it is expected that critical discussion that will provoke high impact decision that will brought about solutions to the barriers will be generated.

Earlier, the Chief Judge of Kano state, Hon. Justice Dije Aboki said the theme of the workshop resonated deeply with the principles of Justice and equality that form the bedrock of legal system.

Justice Aboki, who just in the last five months ago became the first female CJ in Kano, lamented that under representation of women in leadership positions is a barrier undermining the talent and capacity of women and must be challenged.

Yet, the Chief Judge was optimistic that women would overcome the militating factors even as she acknowledged the appointment of a woman presently holding the position of President of the Court of AppealAppeal and 13 female Judges assuming the esteemed position of Chief Judges of the 36 states.

Declaring the occasion open, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kano state, Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi said despite the ugly practice in some part of the country, Kano is setting the milestone with significant consideration of female judges in recent appointment.

The AG stressed that Kano has 50 per cent population of Judges of the state high Court and five of 9 newly approved Judges of the high Court.