Women's political representation and its influence on inclusive policymaking in Nigerian public institutions

Purpose The study aims to explore how women leaders navigate, adapt to and challenge institutional constraints to promote inclusion in policymaking processes, guided by Feminist Institutionalism and informed by African-centred institutional perspectives. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative grounded theory and narrative inquiry approach, the study draws on in-depth interviews with 18 women leaders from public institutions across four Nigerian regions. Findings Three key themes emerged: gendered rules and institutional culture, women's strategies and adaptation in leadership and shifts toward inclusive policymaking. The study introduces the idea of “quiet institutional change” as a slow, quiet transformation driven by women's everyday actions rather than loud policy reforms. Women influence policymaking not through confrontation, but by building relationships, mentoring others and reframing discussions about inclusion. Over time, these small but steady acts begin to shift gendered norms and decision-making spaces. Originality/value This study contributes originality by integrating Feminist Institutionalism with African institutional theory to explain women's leadership in Nigeria's dual governance system. It introduces the quiet institutional change framework, showing how change occurs through relational, everyday practices rather than formal reforms alone. By incorporating Ekeh's “two publics” and Ubuntu leadership, it advances theory through relational institutional agency, highlighting culturally grounded ways women reshape institutions.