touchaheart Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has expressed its condolences over the demise of late Senator Franca Afegbua, the first woman to be democratically elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and praised her for her advocacy of women’s political engagement.
The Federal Government stated that Afegbua symbolized the aspirations and triumph of Nigerian women recognition in national progress in a condolence letter given to the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, by the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Tallen.
Tallen pointed out that the late Afegbua’s ascension to the Senate in 1983 after winning a hotly contested race to represent the now-defunct Bendel State North Senatorial District broke the glass ceiling and made it possible for more women to reach the highest level of their political careers.
The latter said, in part, “Her passing at this time is an irreparable and irreplaceable loss not just to the wonderful people of Edo State but to the wider Nigerian community, especially the Nigerian women. We did, however, find comfort in the fact that she was a strong woman, free of ethnic prejudice, who took pride in showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity to the outside world.
At a time when we are advocating for more representation of women and looking for mentors for the upcoming generation of female politicians, her death has created a significant gap in Nigerian women’s participation in politics.
