Ekiti Attorney General Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Balance in Justice Administration

The Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting gender balance and enhancing women’s participation in the administration of justice.

Apata made the disclosure while hosting members of the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA),during a courtesy visit to his office in Ado-Ekiti.

Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General, Barr. Gbenga Daramola, the Attorney General said Ekiti State remains a leading stakeholder in advancing gender inclusion in Nigeria’s justice sector. 

He added that the ministry continues to deploy resources to support initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for women and expanding access to justice.

Highlighting recent developments in the judiciary, Apata noted that two of the five newly appointed judges in the state are women.

 He also said the President of the State Customary Court, a former FIDA chairperson, is female.

 The Attorney General commended FIDA for the visit and encouraged the organisation to engage further with female judges to share experiences and strengthen institutional collaboration.

Earlier, Deputy Country Vice President of FIDA, Olubunmi Niyi-Arajuwa, who led the delegation, said the organisation remains committed to promoting human rights, gender equality, access to justice, policy reforms, and capacity building for women in the justice sector.

She explained that the visit was aimed at informing the Ministry about an upcoming programme in Ekiti titled “Strengthening Women Inclusion and Advancement in the Nigerian Judiciary Through Institutional Reform.” The initiative, previously implemented in ten states, aims to promote inclusive leadership, career advancement, and address underrepresentation of women in the judiciary.

Programme Manager Mr. Fikih Obaro said the initiative would provide a platform for women in the judiciary to discuss their experiences, work conditions, and challenges. He added that FIDA would continue to collaborate with the Office of the Attorney General to promote the advancement of women in judicial appointments.

The Ekiti State FIDA Chairperson, Ayobami Olowoyo-Richards, expressed appreciation to the Attorney General and the ministry for hosting the delegation on short notice, noting that collaboration between both institutions would continue.

Also present were directors and senior management staff of the Ministry of Justice, including Barr. Ilesanmi Jacob, Mrs. Yetunde Rachael Kolawole, and Barr. Adebayo Arogundade.