Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has decried the poor documentation of Nigerian women’s contributions, warning that their continued invisibility in knowledge systems undermines their access to power and opportunities.

The lawmaker who spoke at the WikiGap Nigeria Symposium 2026 in Abuja, called for deliberate efforts to document and amplify the stories of women across sectors.

According to her, the marginalisation of women in digital and historical records reflects a broader exclusion from leadership spaces.

“When women are invisible in knowledge, they are excluded from power. That is why WikiGap is not just a project, but a movement to correct historical silence,” she said.

Natasha noted that despite the growing impact of women in leadership, innovation and community development, many of their achievements remain undocumented and undervalued.

“Across Nigeria, women are leading and transforming communities, yet too many of their stories remain untold. What is not recorded is often forgotten, and what is forgotten is rarely rewarded,” she added.

She stressed that initiatives such as WikiGap go beyond bridging information gaps, noting that they also advance rights, strengthen justice and expand opportunities for women.

The senator maintained that increasing women’s visibility in digital spaces would amplify their voices and improve support for their aspirations.

Drawing from her experience in politics, she highlighted the structural and cultural barriers confronting women, urging sustained efforts to preserve and amplify their narratives.

“Our stories, struggles and victories must not go undocumented. The future of women in leadership depends on how well we preserve these narratives today,” she said.

She also charged journalists, writers and digital contributors to take responsibility for reshaping narratives around women by consistently documenting their achievements and challenges.

Beyond documentation, Natasha emphasised the need for women to actively participate in knowledge creation, encouraging more women to write, edit and own their narratives in the digital space.

In a show of support for the initiative, the senator announced a monthly donation of N1 million to fund a writing competition dedicated to documenting authentic stories of remarkable women.

“Every story we preserve is a step toward equality. When we write women into history, we write them into the future,” she stated.

The symposium, organised by Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, featured panel discussions and collaborative sessions focused on addressing gender disparities in digital knowledge systems and increasing women’s representation online. (Guardian)

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