Imam Sulaman Ibrahim and Ejiro Umukoro Lead the Charge: Empowering Women, Achieving Equality on #IWD
Cultural norms, societal expectations, and religious beliefs continue to hinder women’s progress in Nigeria, perpetuating inequality and limiting their potential. In this report , Oluwaseyi Elizabeth Jimoh weighs in experts position on these issues emphasizing the need for women to recognize and challenge these barriers to achieve true empowerment that allows women thrive.
Marking 30 years of the Beijing Declaration on International Women’s Day, key stakeholders and experts shared their thoughts on how women and girls can know their rights and stay empowered to accelerate action in their various spheres.
Honorable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Imam Sulaman Ibrahim, identified limiting factors hindering the female gender, noting that “cultural norms, gender bias, disparity in pay, lack of economic empowerment, and lack of legislation are factors that cause lack of equality among men and women in our society.”
She emphasized the importance of women’s unity, stating that “societal norms give power to men, and we don’t have economic power like them, but when we come together and ask that politics remain cheaper, and that women in upper-class and better offices remember to uplift fellow women around them, there would be changes.”
Dr. Adeniyi, Head of Operations at House Foundation and Gender Advocate, decried the ignorance of empowering laws among women, stating that “we see a lot of these women who do not even know that there are laws that exist, and they are not being properly educated.”
Multi-award-winning author of “Distortion” and investigative journalist, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, identified gaps hindering women from accelerating action and fulfilling their potential in the Nigerian system. “There is a mentality in Nigeria that we have, and then there’s also the perception in the Nigerian psyche, where you talk about equality, which is that you’re trying to do my job as a man.”
Lady Ejiro emphasized the importance of equity, stating that “equity is about fairness and justice. So, if you understand that, you know that you’re in a marriage that is almost going to destroy you, you don’t care about society, you walk away.”
Minister of Women Affairs, Imam Sulaman Ibrahim, addressed the issue of gender inequality from a policy perspective, highlighting interventions that are making the most impact. “We have a number of women holding strategic positions, and in areas of elective positions, we have to start from the party structures, administrative rules, and that’s what we’re advocating for.”
She cautioned women against the feeling of entitlement, stating that “we must leave that space of entitlement as women by recognizing ourselves as the majority in the country, and we shouldn’t behave like victims, waiting for people to do things for us.”
The minister emphasized the importance of concerted efforts, stating that “although opportunities are few, yet in recognizing our challenges, we don’t underplay our achievements. I am a believer of if you thank God for where you are, He will take you to where you want to go.”
She urged women to work with the media and speak up to tell their success stories, appealing to media platforms to promote and amplify women’s success stories, knowing that it is an obligation to national development.
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