Webinar Reveals Barriers Blocking Women in Nigeria’s Justice System

                                                        
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) - A national webinar has ignited a powerful call for gender reform in the Nigerian judiciary.

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The Women in Leadership in Law (WILIL) project webinar convened leading judges, lawyers and policy experts to examine gender bias and work-life challenges.

Speakers at the event, organised by the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJN) in collaboration with the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), revealed deep systemic issues that continue to hinder women across judicial institutions.

At the webinar themed ‘Enhancing Work-Life Balance and Accessibility in Court Settings’, they highlighted how caregiving pressures and cultural expectations limit women’s access to leadership roles.

Participants stressed that women still manage most domestic duties despite rising representation on the bench.

This burden creates what experts called a poverty of time that slows career advancement.
The webinar also showcased the successful revival of the Abia State Judiciary crèche.
The facility has boosted productivity and morale among mothers working in the courts.
Officials said this model proves that institutional support transforms professional performance.
Discussions then shifted to policy failures affecting maternity, childcare and staff welfare.

Stakeholders urged courts to adopt nursing rooms, flexible work structures and digital systems.
They argued that such reforms would improve efficiency while protecting women’s wellbeing.
Speakers also condemned discriminatory appointment practices tied to indigene-ship.
They described cases where qualified women were excluded due to marital or birth identities.

Experts insisted that no woman should be denied judicial growth because of her surname or spouse.
Several participants shared personal stories of juggling judgments with childcare demands.
These accounts underscored the emotional and physical strain placed on women in the system.
Judges reported burnout, stress and stalled career progression linked to insufficient support.
Presenters called for a judiciary-wide gender policy to address these entrenched problems.

They said reforms must align with constitutional guarantees and global equality standards.
Interactive sessions produced recommendations for harmonized maternity leave and childcare access.
Stakeholders demanded transparent recruitment processes free of informal gender bias.
They emphasized that true justice cannot exist without workplace equity for women.

The meeting ended with renewed commitment to building a gender-responsive judiciary.
Organisers said the path to fairness begins with dismantling institutional barriers.
Participants agreed that supporting women strengthens judicial integrity and national development.
The webinar concluded with a charge for immediate action across all judicial bodies.