Lawmakers in Nigeria have rejected a bill seeking to empower women and promote gender equality.

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.