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Summary
Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe, along with other key stakeholders, reinforced their commitment to gender equality at the Anglophone West Africa Social Norms & Agency Learning Collaborative Summit held in Abuja.
On Nov. 6, 2024, Senator Ireti Kingibe joined a panel of distinguished leaders and changemakers at the 2024 Anglophone West Africa Social Norms & Agency Learning Collaborative Summit, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The summit, which brought together influential voices from across the region, including thought leaders, policymakers, and experts, to confront some of West Africa’s most pressing social issues, is organised by the Social Norms and Agency Learning Collaborative (SNALC). The centre seeks to advance evidence collection, learning, assessment, and boosting research utilisation capabilities. With an emphasis on Anglophone nations, it seeks to improve and maximise social norms programming in West Africa.
Senator Ireti revealed that during the conference, she shared the stereotypes she faced throughout her political career and how she navigates them to make a meaningful impact in her community.
Senator Ireti first contested for Senator in the FCT senatorial election in 2003 as a member of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but didn’t win. She then joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2006 and the All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2014. In 2022, she joined the Labour Party (LP) where she contested again as Senator of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the 2023 general elections and was declared winner.
Highlighting the importance of perseverance, Senator Ireti noted how pushing past restrictive societal expectations allowed her to achieve her goals and serve as a role model for other women aspiring to leadership roles.
“By openly exchanging insights and experiences, we are creating a collective knowledge base that empowers more people—especially women and youth—to push beyond restrictive societal expectations and seize new opportunities,” she said.
She also shared that the thought-provoking session organised by the SNALC is central to sparking change and creating an inclusive society.
“This summit offers an invaluable space for us to reflect on the power of agency and to discuss practical steps for enabling individuals, particularly women and youth, to seize opportunities that once seemed out of reach,” Senator Kingibe emphasised.
Ultimately, participants at the gathering reinforced their collective commitment to building a future where all West Africans, irrespective of gender or background, can thrive.
