Senator Biodun Olujimi from the south-western Ekiti State was forced to withdraw the draft law after her male colleagues objected citing “socio-cultural and Islamic concerns”.

She told the BBC that it was “disheartening” that women had to contend with many issues in the law-making process.

“Naturally, everyone is afraid of giving power to women...for cultural reasons,” she told the BBC’s News Day programme.

“That’s what we are grappling with and we believe that without a legislation that would make it work for us, it would be tough,” added.

She says she is not going to relent in the fight for equal opportunities for women.