Nigerian
women participated in politics and government through the institution of women chiefs, the
authority of first born daughters and the age grades. In pre-colonial Nigeria, women played prominent roles
in politics and held important positions among the majority of ethnic groups, particularly among the Hausa, the
Yoruba and the Igbo. In the Hausa
society, the dominant people culturally belong to a civilization characterized
by matrilineal succession in the
ruling class, women held high political offices.
A particular case in point was
queen Amina of Zaria who succeeded her father’s throne and ruled for
thirty-four years.
The
role of women in Nigeria's post1960 politics has not been reflected
sufficiently, in terms of appointments to policymaking posts. There has been a
massive support given to various political parties by women, women organizations,
market women movements etc., but still very few women benefited from political
patronage. Nigerian women have participated and emerged in Nigeria's political
landscape