SSANU women seek equal opportunities, greater role in university leadership

The women’s wing of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities has called for greater participation of women in leadership, decision-making and national development, urging members to promote solidarity, mentorship and professional advancement.

The National Women Coordinator of SSANU, Ijeoma Kalu, made the call in her welcome address at the union’s 2026 National Women Conference, where she urged participants to develop practical solutions to challenges confronting women in the workplace and society.

Kalu said the conference was more than an annual gathering, describing it as an opportunity for women to connect, exchange ideas and renew their commitment to improving their welfare and advancing their contributions to the union, universities and the country.

“The theme of this conference provides us with an important opportunity to examine the challenges confronting women in the workplace and society, while exploring practical ways to strengthen our participation in leadership, decision-making and national development,” she said.

She stressed the need to create an environment where women are respected, empowered and given equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully.

According to her, women play important roles in university administration, institutional development and the smooth running of higher education institutions, even when their contributions are not always visible.

“As women who contribute significantly to the administration, development and smooth running of our universities, we understand that our responsibilities extend beyond our individual roles,” Kalu said.

She described women as professionals, mentors, leaders and nation-builders whose contributions extended beyond their formal duties.

The coordinator urged SSANU women to remain united, saying collective action and mutual support were essential to strengthening their influence within the association and beyond.

“Our strength lies in our collective voice, solidarity and willingness to support one another,” she said, calling on participants to build stronger networks, encourage mentorship and promote professional development.

The conference, themed “Healthy Women, Strong Union: Positioning SSANU Women for Leadership and National Relevance,” also provided an opportunity to examine the relationship between women’s well-being, leadership development and effective participation in trade union affairs.

The event took place on Tuesday at the Prof. Idris Abdulkadir Auditorium of the National Universities Commission in Abuja, bringing together women coordinators, union executives, branch chairmen, representatives of sister unions and other stakeholders.

The call for greater participation by women comes amid ongoing negotiations over the welfare and conditions of service of university workers.

In July, SSANU urged the Federal Government to implement its 2026 agreement with the union, which provides for improved remuneration and other workers’ entitlements.

In October, the association issued a 14-day ultimatum over outstanding payments but suspended it following the release of eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Teaching and Non-Teaching Allowance. The union, however, maintained that other outstanding entitlements remained unresolved.