As the world today celebrates International Women’s Day, an annual global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights has announced a program to celebrate the contribution and achievements of 107 Gender Justice Advocates in Nigeria.
A statement by the group’s Executive Director, Bunmi Diop-Salami said those honoured are women who #ChooseToChallenge women’s subordination and oppression to make meaningful change in the lives of women over the years.
“Many of these women have also dared to be different and they have shattered the glass ceiling by so doing,” she said.
The IWD also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s development and gender equality. The theme for the IWD 2021 is “A Challenged World is an Alert World.”
“Throughout history, Nigerian women have made tremendous contribution to the development of the country, from the pre-colonization, colonization, independence and post-independence periods,” BAOBAB said. “They have also fought to preserve their dignity as human beings at all times. For instance, one hundred and seven (107) years ago, women staged a momentous protest against the British and their local co-conspirators who had excluded them from decision-making.
“That 1914 protest has been referred to as the ‘Ogidi Palaver’. Around that same period, Agbaja women abandoned their homes for one month to protest the suspected killings of pregnant women by some men.
“In recent times, Nigerian women have continued to challenge the status quo by promoting and protecting the rights and wellbeing of women and girls, whether as individuals or groups. Against all the odds of traditional, religious, and cultural hindrances which have limited the role of women in the society, women have challenged to be different, thereby bringing about a change in the lives of women and the society at large.
“We have sure come a long way since 1914! However, it is not unexpected that the achievements of women are sometimes either watered down or they are not acknowledged adequately for their various contributions. It is against this backdrop that BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights chose to celebrate the contribution and achievements of 107 Gender Justice Advocates in Nigeria who #ChooseToChallenge women’s subordination and oppression to make meaningful change in the lives of women over the years. Many of these women have also dared to be different and they have shattered the glass ceiling by so doing!
“We will run an advocacy campaign via new media for the entire Women’s History Month of March 2021 and at different times throughout the year. With this campaign, we will celebrate women and raise awareness of the various ways they continue to challenge inequity and inequality in Nigeria and the world over across various ethnic, religious, and social divides.
“Join us as we strive for a society where the rights of women and girls become an integral part of everyday life! Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let us all #ChooseToChallenge and call out gender bias and inequity. “