By Adesina Quadri Ademola

As Nigeria marks Democracy Day, the National Vice President of the Association of Female Comrades (AFC), Comrade Lateef Taiwo Sofiyah, has issued a strong call to action, urging female students and young women across the country to assert themselves as central actors in the protection and advancement of Nigeria’s democratic ideals.

In a statement commemorating the significance of June 12, widely recognized as a symbol of the Nigerian people’s defiance against electoral injustice and autocracy, Sofiyah stressed that the future of democracy hinges on the intentional inclusion of female voices in all spheres of governance from student union leadership to national policymaking.

“There can be no functional democracy without the full and active participation of women,” the statement read. “Our role as female comrades is not peripheral it is central to the fight for equity, accountability, and sustainable development.”

Sofiyah’s remarks reflect a growing consciousness among Nigerian student activists, particularly female leaders, regarding their place in democratic consolidation.

The AFC, a national body advocating for gender justice within student unions and tertiary institutions, has increasingly positioned itself as a strategic force in reshaping discourse on women’s representation.

The student leader also drew a direct connection between the legacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election and the ongoing struggle for inclusive governance. She described June 12 as both a memorial and a movement, calling it “a reminder that democracy, to endure, must be defended by every voice, especially those historically pushed to the margins.”

“It is not enough to honour the past in words; we must honour it in action,” Sofiyah stated. “Women must be seen, heard, and respected in every political process from the polling unit to the policy table.”

Her message comes at a time when analysts and civic actors have raised concerns about the underrepresentation of women in political spaces, despite constitutional guarantees and affirmative action frameworks. Within Nigeria’s student movement, female participation remains disproportionately low, a gap the AFC says it is determined to close.

In outlining the way forward, Comrade Sofiyah reiterated AFC’s commitment to building a leadership pipeline that empowers female comrades through political education, strategic engagement, and campus-based organising.

“Our collective strength lies in our refusal to be silenced,” she affirmed. “As we honour June 12, let it serve as a national awakening a moment to recommit to a democracy that is inclusive, participatory, and gender-responsive.”

Observers have hailed the statement as timely, particularly in light of the increasing pressure on democratic institutions and the decline in youth political engagement. Rights groups and student bodies have echoed Sofiyah’s sentiment, urging policymakers to take practical steps toward gender inclusion in governance structures.

As Nigeria reflects on the democratic journey that June 12 symbolizes, the words of Comrade Sofiyah Lateef offer both a sober reminder and an urgent imperative: that the struggle for democracy is far from over and that women, especially the younger generation, must be at its forefront.

Adesina Quadri Ademola is a journalist with interests in democratic governance, youth affairs, and gender policy in Nigeria.