Nigeria, Nov. 16 -- In October, Nigeria's gender rights space saw renewed activism, policy debates, and controversy.

Women, policymakers, and youth leaders intensified advocacy for the passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill to correct political representation imbalances, a measure experts call crucial for overcoming historical barriers.

At the same time, a presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, convicted of killing her husband, stirred controversy and reopened wounds of the victim's family. The development drew sharp criticism from the victim's family and sparked debate, which prompted the presidency to commute her death sentence, reversing its earlier pronouncement.

Meanwhile, in Zamfara State, worsening insecurity continu...