“Women Are Taking the Bench” – CJN Hails Lagos, Kano’s Lead in Female Judges
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has commended Lagos and Kano states for their exemplary strides in appointing women to judicial offices, describing them as pacesetters in the push for gender equity across Nigeria’s judiciary.
Speaking at the 25th biennial conference of the National Association of Women Judges of Nigeria (NAWJIN), the CJN acknowledged the increasing presence of women in judicial leadership, but warned that gender parity remains a distant goal in many jurisdictions.
“It is noteworthy that Lagos and Kano have become frontrunners in terms of women representation on the Bench,” she said. “In fact, they are now female-dominated in some respects. However, a number of other states are still falling short.”
According to recent data presented at the conference, women currently occupy 32% of judicial positions across federal and state courts — 449 out of 1,391 officers. The High Court of Justice in the FCT has the highest representation, with 46% female judges, while the Supreme Court stands at just 30%.
| Court/Conference | % Female Judges |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 30% |
| Court of Appeal | 32% |
| Federal High Court | 36% |
| FCT High Court | 46% |
| State High Courts | 36% |
| Customary Courts of Appeal | 33% |
| All Courts Combined | 32% |
