“A picture is worth a thousand words” – Albert Einstein
One can argue that it has indeed been a long time coming to see the legislative arm of the National Assembly -House of Representatives, work in tandem to push for a constitutional amendment that includes the reservation of seats for women in parliament. In previous opinion pieces here and here, I described that the process of increasing the representation of women is through three methods- one of which is the special seats set aside for only women to contest for a seat in National Assembly.
Are leaders made or born?
History shows accounts of many men who took fatherhood as a role to ensure that their children, especially daughters, have a leadership mindset and very strong sense of self. Before I comb through a short list of examples (to reduce the reading time of this opinion piece) there are scholarly discourses that affirm the influence of fathers on daughters’ leadership abilities.
In academic research to determine the influence of fathers on entrepreneurship abilities, an analysis of an interview of 21 daughters revealed that indeed, their father’s perception does influence the daughters’ entrepreneurial capabilities. In different scientific research to investigate fathers’ impact on children’s academic success, the study affirmed that there is indeed a remarkable positive difference when children gain the academic support of their fathers. Another research on father-daughter vision as a determining factor in family businesses discovered that fathers can create a shared vision with daughters and enable them overcome gender barriers once there is communication and understanding of the daughter’s career interests and path as well as the structural bias she may face.
Can Fathers influence leadership in daughters?
Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha was raised by her father, Eze Bob Ogbonna, since losing her mom at a tender age. In 2019 Onyejocha ran for the speaker of 9th assembly of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives after winning a return ticket to the house for a fourth term. She was the only female candidate in the race in a male dominated field. One can deduce that her push for the “Gender Bills” which included the special seats in March 2022, could have emanated from her drive for inclusion. Hon. Onyejocha stepped down for Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila just 24 hours before the voting.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said her father, Professor Chukwuka Okonjo, was an accomplished man on so many levels “a highly respected academic, international public servant, university administrator, intellectual and traditional ruler.” The first Nigerian and Female to hold the position of Director General of World Trade Organisation, often times asserted the influence of her upbringing, and noted specifically, the impact of her father in becoming who she is today. Dr. Okonjo- Iweala has held very critical and global positions such as the finance minister for Nigeria and at World Bank where she rose to the number 2 position as the MD, Operations.
“If you are a “daddy’s girl” raise up your hand! The love of a father is very crucial in shaping a girl’s view of men. A father’s love builds your self-confidence and makes you able to face the world without fear”. This statement was made by Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, former Chairperson of First Bank. Mrs. Awosika eulogised her father, Abdul Moshood Adekola, on his 88th birthday post humous. She recounted how her late father taught them virtues like; discipline, the value of hard work, astuteness, dedication, love, and of all keeping close contact with the creator and kept being that pillar ever since the passing of their mother.
Africa’s richest woman according to Forbes, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija, was among the 52 children born to her father, Chief Ogbara. Mrs Alakija’s mom was the first wife of 8 women and her parents ensured that education, values and determination were the foundation in raising her and her sister. Her father supported to see Mrs Alakija to venture to Northern Wales for early academic grounding and return to Nigeria afterwards. Although her father did not see her legal ambition as a path however, he enrolled her into secretarial studies in United Kingdom. One can deduce that this fatherly trajectory may have contributed to add value to who Mrs Alakija is today.
UN Deputy- Secretary General, Amina J. Mohammed, is the first Nigerian to be appointed (and reappointed) as UN Deputy Secretary-General, and the second African woman ever to be appointed to that role. Ms Mohammed begun her early childhood in United Kingdom, born to a Nigerian father -Hausa-Fulani Veterinarian, Mr Mohammed and Margaret Wilson, a British Mother and Nurse. Her studies in Nigeria and United Kingdom formed a path for her development however her father insisted that she returns to Nigeria after studies. She did. One can argue that this influence from her father has made her accomplished in many roles in government and private institutions, creating impact and delivering global changes.
“My dad prepared me well for what I am doing” is a statement made by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili about her father, Benjamin Ujubuonu. The past minister for Solid Minerals, Minister for Education and past Vice President of the World Bank (Africa Region), in an interview, went further to share that “My father enabled me have a strong voice and he validated me so much that nobody can ever invalidate me. I always say to my male siblings and friends that the father figure is very important in the life of a girl child. When a father validates his daughter, no one can invalidate her”.
In a tribute to her dad, Alhaji Musa Musawa. Hannatu Musa Musawa shared the vital role that her father played in shaping her. The Minister for Art, Culture and the Creative Economy said “Dad not only were you, my father, but you were also my greatest role model, my hero, my inspiration, and my rock. The barrister who has a stellar educational background, says she will never miss an opportunity to say how much influence her father has in her leadership trajectory.
These few examples are just a tip of the iceberg compared to what my research on this theme came up with. When I look at the array of representation, I theorise an assumption that explores the possibility of a missing link? A link that society may have robbed us of with the over-emphasis on social roles, norms and expectations from society. If my theoretical assumption is correct, what then is the solution to correct the missing link?
The Evolving Nature of Fatherhood
Despite the social norms in our society, there are many fathers that are deliberate in ensuring their daughters toe the line of leadership as seen from some of my examples above. I have to say that society, in my opinion, can limit some roles that men can do and willingly at that, from them. Some fathers, when given the opportunity to nurture and care for their children, do so way better than society reinforces and gives them credit for. Some dads keep the children well looked after, are committed to ensuring their daughters and sons get the best of them way more than the society- assigned provider role.
The richest man in Africa, according to Forbes, Aliko Dangote, recently ensured his 3 daughters- Mariya, Halima and Fatima, are listed in the succession plan of the family’s legacy. Many arguments ensue in this gesture from a father with some lauding the decision of Alhaji Dangote showing a leadership example irrespective of gender of his children, to others giving credit to the upbringing of his daughters to other nuanced narratives speaking to the fact that Aliko Dangote has no biological son and hence, is more comfortable to leave his biological daughters his legacy. Such narratives do not show the viability of female children as the priority but these mindsets must evolve across gender lines.
Can a picture be worth a thousand (positive) words?
I began this piece deliberately with this quote.
The picture of the Speaker of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon Tajudeen Abass and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, holding up the banner that shows a solidarity for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, is an interesting positioning of affairs since the campaign begun. There can be many perspectives drawn from this one picture. From my lens, I see 3 things – the boldness of two leaders who are actively using their offices and statuses to support that more women are represented in positions of leadership; the view that two fathers are demonstrating the importance of fatherhood in influencing their daughter’s leadership mindset now and in the future and lastly, two heterosexual men, openly advocating for the position of women in leadership despite the social norms that depict women otherwise. Would this show of example influence the votes of the fathers in the National Assembly?
The Transcendence
Our society is gradually evolving from positioning leadership as a gender specific role to shifting narratives that show, demonstrate and include women as leaders and potential leaders. This re-positioning is not just for families who take the intentional decision to re-engineer the mindsets of their daughters to be leaders, it is also beneficial for the sons to re-think and see that women too can lead. The mantra goes beyond speaking about re-imagining and re-positioning women into leaderships roles, it should be a deliberate action illustrated by the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill in both houses of parliament. We owe it to ourselves to “test’ this new process first and see.
Afterall, the proof is in the pudding.
Añuli Aniebo
References
A Sentuti et al 2024. Journal of Family Business Strategy 15. 100562
Asiyat Magomaeva, 2013. “Who taught us how to lead?”. Parental Influence on Leadership Styles
Front Psychology 2015. Shared Vision between fathers and daughters in family businesses: the determining factor that transforms daughters to successors
Lazović et al. (2022). The correlation between father involvement and the academic achievement of their children: meta-
analysis, International Journal of Cognitive Research in Science, Engineering and Education (IJCRSEE), 10(3), 53-60.
The Africa Report, 2025
Taiwo Ojoye 2019. The Punch News
Wikipedia Pages, 2025