By Anamati Inyang
December 9, 2025
Leadership is often discussed in broad terms such as competence, experience, influence and results. Every now and then, real life examples remind us that leadership also has a heart.
Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s recent decision to gift six of her personal aides fully furnished houses did more than just marking her 46th birthday. It reminded us of an age-old truth; when women lead, something shifts.
Her gesture is not just generosity. It is a demonstration of what leadership seem to be, especially when empathy meets responsibility. And it is the perfect window through which to examine what happens when women are in power.
Women Lead With Humanity at the Centre
One of the most defining strengths of women in leadership is their ability to connect with people on a human level. This is evident in the Senator’s action. Instead of celebrating extravagantly, she chose to appreciate the people who walk the path of service with her daily.
When women lead, emotions are not treated as weakness. They become tools of understanding. Empathy becomes a form of governance. People are not seen as statistics rather as lives that can be improved. Many women in leadership roles around the world have been praised for their people-centered approach.
Accountability becomes personal, not performative!
Women often understand the weight of trust in public service. Their rise to leadership is usually harder, longer and more scrutinized. However, this naturally brings about accountability which is internal, not imposed.
A woman in power knows that her success is not individual. It reflects on every other woman watching.
This sense of shared responsibility shapes her decisions. It explains why leaders like Senator Akpoti Uduaghan invest in people rather than optics and frivolities.
When women lead, ego steps aside. Impact steps forward.
Women Prioritize Legacy Over Loudness
In a political space, where noise frequently overshadows substance, women tend to lead from a quieter but more enduring place. They focus on what will outlive them, not what will trend.
The Senator’s decision to give her aides homes is not a campaign strategy; it is legacy building. It is an act her beneficiaries will talk about long after politics has moved.
This is the difference – while some leaders chase applause, women often chase impact and legacies.
Communities Flourish Under Women’s Leadership
Studies from various strata consistently shows that when women are involved in governance, communities experience better welfare outcomes – in education, health, conflict resolution and development. This is not magic. It is mindset.
Women understand community because they have lived as part of its fabric. They have been caregivers, reformers, mediators, nurturers and network builders. Their leadership naturally extends these strengths into public service.
Senator Natasha’s gesture fits into this pattern; the people always coming first.
A Call for More Women in Power
If one woman in a political office can uplift six households in one day, imagine what more women in leadership could do across the country.
Nigeria cannot progress by keeping half of its potential outside the decision making room. Women are not just qualified to lead, they are essential to the nation’s growth.
More women in governance means more balanced leadership, more compassion in decision making, more accountability and impact.
Obviously, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan did not just gifts, she gave the nation a reminder. A reminder that leadership is meant to elevate. That compassion has a place in public office. That power can uplift, not intimidate.
Ultimately, her action reinforces this truth:
When women are in power, society wins.
When women lead, people feel it.
And when women rise, they carry others along.
This is why women deserve more space at the decision-making table. Not as tokens, rather as changemakers.
