International Women’s Day is a global day for celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Every year, on March 8, the world comes together to celebrate women’s achievements and reinforce a commitment to women’s equality. The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is #BreakTheBias. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn’t enough. Action is needed to level the playing field.
The Metro Lawyer (TML) presents, five inspiring women who are #breaking the bias daily. They share their stories and thoughts on busting stereotypes and spotlighting issues that impact women and girls.
Ozioma Izuora
Ozioma Izuora was born to the Ezeifedi family of Imenyi Ihitenansa, Orsu LGA, Imo State, almost 59 years ago. Growing up during the Nigerian civil war, having been dragged home from Benin City where her father ran his patent medicine business during the evacuation of the town in 1966, she grew up precocious and sensitive to the intense discrimination against women. All around her, she witnessed violence and desperation, as numerous relatives who returned from wherever they eked out a living had to cram into tight corners of the family compound.
Scarcity of resources posed a major challenge. Human beings survived by feeding off fodder and protein of any sort, from rats to lizards; grasshoppers to aku (flying termites), all in a bid to avoid kwashiorkor, scabies, and other diseases brought on by malnourishment. (Her forthcoming memoir will reveal her personal journey from the early struggles of life to womanhood).
With a first degree in English Language (Drama Stress), and a Masters’s degree in Education from Exeter University, England, she obtained a degree in Law in 1999 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in January 2001. Cutting her teeth in practice in the Chambers of late Anyamene, SAN, in Enugu, she discovered that she could continue to champion the cause of women in her own rights.
As a teacher she had been engaged by NGOs to prepare students in drama, speaking, and debates on various societal issues. With the blessing of her principal, she moved to Abuja in 2003 and set about training in areas to best help her promote advocacy for women’s rights. In 2005, she co-founded Mediators & Advocates of Peace (LAMPAIX) with Chief Anyamene as the first Chairman of BOT and late Chief Segun Olusola, among others, as a patron, who also appointed her as a consultant into his African Refugee Foundation(AREF).
LAMPAIX was the platform from which Mrs. Izuora employed her skills as a writer and dramatist to explore avenues for peacebuilding, human rights, and social discourse. Her first novel, Dreams Deferred, (shortlisted for NLNG Prize in 2008; won ANA/ Ken Saro Wiwa Prize for Prose in 2009), dealt with the plight of widows, but not in the routine portrayal they receive in literature. She presented a protagonist who refused to bow to societal pressures by rising above her adversity to help others discover themselves. In 2009, her play Blood for Palm Wine was enacted at Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja by the Fidoko Theatre of UNN to great applause. In that play, she x-rayed the violence in society which would readily condone rape and other forms of violence against women rather than risk tarnishing family names or to maintain outdated traditions. 2012 saw her present the novel, Scavengers’ Orgy which portrayed damaged women and other typical actors that are easily evident on Nigeria’s political scene. Digging deep into the rot that backgrounds such bent-out-of-shape characters, she makes a case for cleansing the society by closer inquiry to hold individuals accountable in whatever capacity they present themselves in society.
Practicing Law in Abuja, Mrs. Izuora participated actively in various professional associations. She was the Vice-Chair of FIDA Nigeria, Abuja Branch, and in her bid to raise women to become more prominent at the main Bar, also became Vice-Chair of the Abuja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association – the first woman to break that jinx! Thereafter, it became her project to assist women to aspire for that position at successive elections. She was the NEC Rep of the branch until 2020, where she put the interests of the branch out there with her outspoken and clear-sighted engagements. She has also participated in many general women fora and is currently the Legal Adviser of the Nigerian League of Women Voters.
Since 2009, her voice has been heard on the world stage at the annual Commission on the Status of Women Conference (CSW) at the United Nations in New York. She it was, who first suggested that men be included as partners in the fight for the cause of women, citing the support she received from her husband at every turn. By the year 2010, that became the official position of the United Nations, which set up a vanguard of men and women rights activists.
Recently, having obtained her LLM, she has made her way back to the classroom where she currently gives back to society by instructing the next generation of lawyers in Family Law, Human Rights, and Constitutional Law among others. She now has the opportunity of mentoring young minds to fight against all forms of violence against persons. In the annual review of Criminal Law in the area of Sex and Gender-Based Violence for the Rule of Law Development Foundation set up by the eminent former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, J. B. Daudu SAN, she continually places these evils in the society on the discussion table. Other associations like the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and others often seek her input into discussions on the rights of the woman, especially with regards to the 16 Days of Activism to end Violence Against Women which LAMPAIX has championed annually for years.
What are the most effective ways to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism, especially in the workplace?
The best way to correct stereotypical portrayal of any issue is through continuous engagements with those who hold those views in order to correct them. Typically, stereotypes, like all prejudices, are transmitted from person to person. They are learned behavior. They can only be corrected via unlearning of previously held views. Traditions and convictions are often too deep-rooted to be swept away through uncoordinated sanctimonious preaching.
Those working to correct stereotypes bear the burden of living true to their convictions. You become an ambassador of your convictions and must never slip up or you will be judged very harshly. This is the Achilles’ heel of all advocates everywhere. For instance, you cannot be advocating for ending violence against persons and be cited for inflicting violence on people. Even though humans are vulnerable creatures, your judges will accept nothing but perfection from you. See what happens to pastors caught in infidelity and the like! In the workplace, for instance, you must exhibit the behavior you preach. If you put your beauty out, for instance, before your capability to perform in certain roles in your office, you would be shooting yourself in the foot and setting back whatever you preach. You can’t cut corners; you can’t be unprofessional…you must set good examples, even if you must lose benefits and privileges. Above all, you must look out for those who suffer from their convictions at the workplace and provide support and good advice.
Destroying stereotypes is difficult and the advocate must prime herself to pay the price for her conviction.
The National Assembly recently rejected a number of bills that affect women. How can women restrategize in order to get positive results in the future?
Only those who are new to Nigeria’s National Assembly can say they were surprised at the outcome of the voting on the bills concerning women. Unlike the popular view on the reasons the National Assembly reacted adversely to issues of empowering women, I do not believe it was about our culture and tradition. It is, in fact, motivated by a raw scramble for power.
I’ll take you back to 1998/1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria. I reflected on this matter in the novel, Scavengers’ Orgy. Many people were not convinced that the military was really going to hand over power to civilians, and as such, preferred to mind whatever businesses or professions they were in rather than participate. Two main groups of people took the plunge to join politics: those gamblers who sought to discover a direction in life by investing in politics; and those who, having collaborated with the military, were sponsored into power by military strongmen/godfathers.
These people, mostly men, and women who have been favoured by the powers that be, have held on to power which they did not get from the popular will. They are not about to let it slip into hands they cannot control. Strong independent women will live up to their billing. And of course, politics works with numbers. So long as the number of women does not increase, the threat of their running free and away from the kitchen and bedrooms towards policy and law-making spaces is less.
We are still at the primitive level of humanity where women must answer to the superior human species: men. People argue about how women have already overrun all professions and are featured at the highest echelon of even international organisations. Indeed, wherever women have depended on their grey matters to progress, they have. But not so in politics. Why is that? Is it not mostly women that dance, campaign, and vote? The answer is simply that power is currently not available to ‘the people’. Those who seized power at the onset, if you look closely, are still very much in power, along with their military collaborators. Some in the military changed their uniform for civilian garbs but never relinquished their mentality that they call the shots on power. Women do not fit into the prevailing equation.
Finally, let me register my personal cynicism regarding the special seats being pushed for. I never supported it. 360 members of the House of Reps are already unwieldy and some have called for a change to unicameral assembly rather than bicameral because of the large size of the assembly. Why would anyone suggest they add 111 new seats with all the attendant costs? I would have suggested that we persuade the men to relinquish a few seats – like five or six seats per state to be vied for by women. At the state level, those seats can be assigned to rotate around the local governments. The parties are already used to rotating offices. If women are helped to get a foot in, some of the hills in their paths would have been levelled to enable them to stand on their own eventually after a few years.
I think this need not go into the Constitution; it is meant to be an affirmative action which has a lifespan. We should rather insert an affirmative action in Chapter Two directive principles of state policy and be available at necessary times to assist marginalised groups in any areas. It will not have to be women all the time. Time will come when even men might need affirmative action to be helped into some areas in the polity.
People may scoff at the idea now, but I teach in the university and see that more women are shining forth everywhere. It will not be long for men to need such assistance! I think going forward, women can step down insisting on having special seats inserted into the Constitution. We can approach the political parties to do this. If the party constitution states that a certain percentage of women should feature in elective positions, we would achieve more satisfying results without riling up those men who have also been short-changed by the system.
Bilkisu Magoro
Dr. Bilkisu Magoro is a well-versed Development Consultant and Gender/Human Rights Advocate who has thrived in the area of Advocacy for 12 years. Her engagement with international organisations, corporations, and foreign governments in four continents to develop and implement sustainable economic, political, and public policies spans over 27 years.
Equitable and sound governance is underpinned by citizen and economic relevant and efficient policies. Similarly, a representation which reflects the landscape of the country in the governing structures plays a key role in ensuring that an array of voices are heard and infused into the fibre of strategies and solutions. Dr. Magoro has responded to the cry for more women representation in the political sphere. She has contested elections in a male-dominated environment three times and was the only female contestant at the 2019 General Elections who contested for the National Assembly in the two major parties from the North West of Nigeria. She continues to advocate and support aspiring female politicians and hopes to witness the election of women from the North West in the National Assembly both in the Senate or House of Representatives.
Her membership of an array of associations such as the Institute of Commercial Management Bournemouth England, Global Shea Alliance, Northern Reawakening Forum, Women in Management and Business, NEPAD Business Group, African Business Round Table, the Centre of Values in Leadership, Institute of Corporate Executives of Nigeria, National Institute of Management, All-China Women’s Federation, National Council of Women Societies, Alumni Associations and Unity Schools Old Students Association have provided her with well-rounded hands-on experiences which she has leveraged and exhibited as a delegate in over 52 attended global summits. Dr. Bilkisu was a Member of the Gender Affirmative Action Steering Committee, Electoral and Constitution Memoranda Committee (GEM), Coalition for Change, delegate at the National Conference of Nigeria 2014, Committee Chair for the UN launch of HeForShe in Nigeria 2017, and a delegate to the 61st UN Commission on the Status of Women 2017, 62nd UN CSW62 2018 and 64th UN CSW64 2020.
Her academic qualifications include a BSc in Biological Sciences, Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in International Relations. All from the prestigious Universities of Warwick, Leicester, Buckingham, Commonwealth Open University, and Ahmadu Bello University. Dr. Bilkisu has acquired over 40 Academic Certifications.
Recognised for her contribution to society and community advancement, Bilkisu has received numerous awards worldwide amongst which are the merit award for Entrepreneur per Excellence, Input towards Education and the Distinguished Merit Award for Excellence in Prudence and Accountability, The Vigor Award Canada, Bilkisu was the Face of UNIFEM 2009, Award for outstanding African Woman Award for Civic Leadership and Community Development New York at UN CSW62 side event, Gender equality and Women advancement Award South Korea, Icon of Humanitarian service and Capital Development, Impact Maker Award Who is Who Award, Abuja and Icon of Societal Transformation.
Constantly aware of the major role that her community played in her development, Dr. Bilkisu views her passion for voluntary work towards empowerment and nation-building as the only path to take. The Ismor Magoro Foundation is her brainchild. The foundation, which focuses on empowering women and youth, has trained over 1,500 women in Shea butter production and craft and has catered for over 800 pregnant women.
Bilkisu opened Bilmor Technical and Vocational Centre for Special Needs children in 2016. The Centre has trained over 70 young adults with learning disabilities in Vocational Skills and has trained over 1,200 teachers in inclusive education. Her interests in sound governing structures, education, social policies, and reform have seen her journey to over 38 countries. On this passage of knowledge-seeking, she has strived to create awareness of how Nigeria and Africa’s tremendous opportunities and capabilities far outweigh the challenges faced on the continent.
Dr. Bilkisu Magoro is a mother and proudly Nigerian.
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how have you overcome them?
Barriers are one of the most common issues faced by women politicians in Nigeria especially Northern Nigeria. Having contested elections three times, there have always been challenges which are mostly focused on my gender. I wouldn’t say I have overcome the barriers as such barriers still exist, more work towards creating awareness on the importance of women’s participation in governance is still going on. Until this awareness is achieved especially to our male citizens, the barriers against women in politics will be difficult to overcome.
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
I think one of the most important things is for the young women to first discover their life purpose, following which they must decide on the career path they want to follow. Next is for them to set S.M.A.R.T GOALS. These will be short, medium, and long-term goals. SMART as in Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and within a time frame. When that is done, they should remain focused and determined to achieve these goals. There should be no procrastination. There will be challenges along the way, but they must not be deterred. They must have mentors and be ready to learn. They should not let biases or motivation blockers get in their way. I believe with all these including being smart and working hard, there is nothing they would not succeed at. I wish them success.
lniobong Irene Pepple
lniobong Irene Pepple (Mrs.) is a Business Attorney and a Child and Women’s Rights Advocate. Her practice areas are Corporate and Commercial Law, Intellectual Property Law, Power, Oil and Gas Law, and Family Law. She is the Founding and Managing Partner of Peacemakers Legal Consultancy, a full-service law firm offering legal services to a diverse sphere of clients. She and her team provide legal advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and corporate entities. She has been in active practice for 22 years.
She advocates for female Lawyers to take up roles in Law firms that can allow them to work remotely. She is passionate about women and promotes the causes of women.
She is currently the Secretary of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Rivers State branch. where she volunteers her legal services for free to indigent women and children. She is also a Mentor and a female Lawyers coach which she achieves through a platform called the “Better Practitioners”; a platform set up to encourage female Lawyers to stay in practice while managing their families, especially during the child-raising phase by equipping them with the requisite skills to enhance their practice.
lniobong is a Chartered Secretary and Administrator, a Chartered Arbitrator, and a Certified Professional Negotiator and Mediator. She is currently the Head of the Women’s group in Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bonny Island, Rivers State.
Before founding Peacemakers Legal. lniobong Pepple is an excellent communicator with a highly developed sense of responsibility.
Many of her colleagues at work and in the several professional bodies she belongs to can readily attest to this. Some of these professional bodies are The Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Federacion Internacional De Abogadas, (FlDA) Rivers State Association of Professional Negotiators and Mediators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators,
The Institute of Chartered Mediators, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Women in Shipping and Trading Association
She has served on several committees of these organizations. She is a past national officer of the NBA, She is a past Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch. She is a past Publicity Secretary of the African Women Lawyers Association, Rivers State Branch, Secretary, Women in Shipping and Trading Association, Port Harcourt (WISTA), and the Financial Secretary of the Bonny Lawyers Association.
lniobong believes that she is called to impact and improve lives with her skills.
What does IWD mean to you?
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. For me, it is a day to celebrate women’s achievements. Raise awareness against bias. It is also a day to join others to advocate for gender equity. I do not just ask for equality but equity. Gender equity is the process of being fair to women and men. To ensure fairness, strategies and measures must often be available to compensate for women’s historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from otherwise operating on a level playing field. Equity leads to equality. I say let’s start from Equity as we move to equality.
The theme for this year 2022 is Break the Bias. Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias. One of the biases is against Women’s participation in Politics.
Many pay only lip service yet turn around to discriminate against the same women. There is actually no equity, and there is even less opportunity. Those who try are labeled with all sorts of names. This makes women with Leadership skills, stay out to avoid all the negativity.
Only recently the National Assembly voted against all the gender bills. A sad day indeed. I think the 8th of March should be a day to create awareness of the need for gender equity and equality and an opportunity to break the bias.
Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?
The barrier in my career as a legal practitioner became more real when it was time to gain employment as a private practitioner. I was called to the Bar in 2001 and got married in the same month.
My status as a married woman was a heavy barrier. No firm wanted a married woman. They were of the opinion that I would get pregnant in no time and would not be of much gain in the firm. That barrier is real and places female Lawyers at a disadvantage because their male colleagues would go on to be employed using the few years to gain mastery in the profession. The female counterparts were even advised to just focus on family only. Desires of excelling in practice are deferred until after the children have grown. Even when she desires to return to practice, the excuse is that they are not experienced or well versed in legal practice and so the cycle continues.
For me, I overcame it by deciding to remain in practice. It takes a mind shift. I gave in to other side hustles but knowing that law was my first love, I always came back to it. I found a practice area that gave me flexible time for my family. Solicitorship gave me the opportunity to practice with my peculiar needs. I also outsourced any brief I couldn’t handle. I never ever rejected briefs. It was either an opportunity for me to learn or earn.
Secondly, I learnt new skills. I took up training in other practice areas. I can say that hunger for knowledge kept me going. Thirdly, I kept in touch with the profession. I attended conferences. I paid my bar practice fees. Attended branch meetings etc. I made myself very visible. Fourthly, I volunteered my services pro bono for organizations to keep me at par. FIDA is an organization you can volunteer in to groom and hone your skills. It may seem difficult for some but with the right coaching and support, it is doable.
Presently I mentor female Lawyers especially those in that very sensitive stage where they make the delicate decision whether to stay and remain in practice or pack up. I want to let them know that it is possible to raise a family and grow in your career. A law career does not rise and fall with litigation. Female Lawyers can train to be Chartered Secretaries, Mediators, Arbitrators, etc as long as they provide a legal solution, clients will seek their services.
I am currently creating awareness for Law firms to employ these brains in other areas eg. Virtual Assistants, Virtual Research, websites, and Social media managers for their Websites. Dear woman, there is so much to achieve as long as we have a Can-Do attitude. Everything starts with the mindset. If you believe you can’t, you won’t but if you believe you can, you will.
Grace Zemaye Egbagbe
Grace Zemaye Egbagbe
Grace Zemaye Egbagbe is a household name, especially in the Nigerian media industry. She was a top official of the Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA) before she retired from the federal government-owned broadcast station. The Edo-born lawyer, now a retiree, obtained a degree in English from the University of Ibadan, another in Theatre Arts, Film and Television Production at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and a Law degree from the University of Buckingham, England. She had a successful career in the media spanning 27 years at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and culminating in her role as Executive Director, Marketing.
What are the most effective ways to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism, especially in the workplace?
The easiest way to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism is for women to take up more active leadership and managerial roles in sectors that had traditionally been seen as being exclusively for men. Take the banking sector for example, who would have thought we could have a female CEO of a big bank like Fidelity or female Chairpersons of banks like Access bank, GTBank etc? They have shown that what a man can do, a woman can do better! Professional organizations like FIDA should play a more active role in advocating strongly for leadership and more significant roles for women not only in regulatory but also in the promulgation of laws . What just happened in the assembly is disgraceful and makes no sense at all! Do you know why though? I think it’s because men are afraid of us women (and they should be!) because together, we are a formidable group and capable of taking over! We work hard and we are natural-born managers. We are the wives, mothers, CEOs, etc combined, and we carry out all these duties/functions effortlessly. What we should also do, is to educate the men and let them know that we are not foes but allies. They seek our support when they want but don’t want us to sit at the table with them so they throw out bills concerning us! So it’s either that or let’s tell them: “Bring it on!” We are in this struggle for the long haul and won’t give up till we succeed, and succeed we will!
If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
The three women I would love to have dinner with are St. Mother Theresa. She was a world leader who impacted the world simply by her incredible giving heart and simplicity. She loved the poor (and Jesus of course!) and spent her life feeding the poor. Her actions were so widely acclaimed that to be called “ Mother Theresa” became an endearing compliment. She put her hard work and love where her heart was! No wonder she attained sainthood not too long after her death. The second is Prof Dora Akunyili. She was my dear friend, beloved and respected by all. She brought new meaning to honesty in governance, always refusing to be compromised. She did her work diligently and often worked late into the night. I remember one night when she called after midnight to tell me she’ll be arriving in Lagos the following morning and I said “then you should be sleeping!” She replied” I have work to finish before I come..”, and proceeded to tell me why she called. Her mission and passion were to eradicate fake drugs in Nigeria, and for that, she suffered many attacks on her life. Dora is reputed to have received more awards (both local and international) than any other Nigerian we know! She was that well known and appreciated for her integrity and hard work! I still miss her and yes, I would love to have dinner with Prof. Dora Akunyili. The third woman I’d love to have dinner with – and thank God she’s very much alive- is my dear “Sis Ngo” (as I call her). Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was an outstanding Nigerian minister of finance (when many thought a woman could not be). She was an intelligent and hardworking minister but what got to me the most was her simplicity and humility (to say nothing of her willingness to interact with you as a friend when she saw you in public!). Some would pretend they don’t even know you! She’s brilliant and is a great role model. I’m not sure she got the recognition and appreciation she deserves from us but she’s proved her mettle and has been recognized by the international community. Now she’s the very first – wait for it – black woman-to head the WTO!! She has an intimidating cv which anyone interested can find on google. Yes! I would love to have dinner with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Jumoke Bamigboye
Mrs Jumoke Bamigboye
Jumoke Bamigboye is a lady of many parts, she is not only a highly committed educationist, a disciplinarian, an astute administrator, a master planner, a farmer, a valiant entrepreneur, a staunch naturalist but also a well-focused, hardworking, determined professional, great adjudicator and, an apostle of decency and humility.
She started her educational pursuits at Government Secondary School, Eket, University of Uyo- Political Science/Public Administration and ended up in Rivers State University of Science and Technology for her Bachelor of Law(LLB) Degree. Thereafter, She proceeded to Nigerian Law School Bwari for her Barrister at Law (BL). She worked briefly with Clement Akpamgbo (A.G Federation, as he then was) after her law school, Later, Rabana & Co until 2014 when she joined the Kwara State Judiciary.
She joined the Rotaract Club of the University of Uyo and transferred to the Rotaract Club of DLine Port Harcourt and became the first female President of the club. She rose to the highest office in Rotaract where she was elected the District Rotaract Representative (DRR) in the then District 9140 comprising all clubs in the south-south and southeast geo-political zones of Nigeria.
Jumoke joined the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Central briefly before relocating to Ilorin. In Ilorin, the Rotary Club of Ilorin was her first port of call. She became the first female President of the club. As the President of RC Ilorin, she won the 2nd best Rotarian of the year and the club was the best club in the District. The club also won the 2nd best in membership in the District. In fact, she is a recipient of several District and multi District awards. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Ilorin G R A.
She served as Assistant Governor 3 consecutive times, Lieutenant Governor – 3 consecutive times, District Chair Rotaract, District Chair Rotary Community Corp, and Assistant Zonal Coordinator.
Since 2011, Jumoke has attended all Rotary International Conventions and has been instrumental in the chartering of several new clubs. She is widely travelled and a valuable resource person at various seminars and conferences. She is a member of various Rotary Action Groups, President of Rotarian Wine Appreciation Fellowship (RWAF) Nigeria, and a board member of RWAF International.
Jumoke is the immediate Past Governor of Rotary District 9125. Her performance as Governor won her several awards and recognition.
She is the Yeye Otun Jagunmolu of Ile Ife( The Source) and Yeye Jagunmolu of Omu Aran.
She is a mother of 7 and is happily married to Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd), former Governor Bauchi State and Osun State and she has a social classification of 5th level grandmother.
What does IWD mean to you?
International Women’s Day is celebrated to show the importance and significance that women have in the lives of their family members and society. Every year, Women’s Day is observed around the world to honour the social, economic, and cultural achievements of women from all areas of life. The purpose of the day is to honour a woman’s accomplishments while also raising awareness about bias.
When 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights, the push for reform became louder.
The inaugural Women’s Day was honoured in the United States in 1909. Copenhagen hosted an international meeting of working women in 1910.
People realize that International Women’s Day isn’t associated with any one country, group, or organization.
This day is dedicated to all women around the world. It is very important for us to recognize, celebrate, and raise awareness of women’s accomplishments.
To address gender bias and discrimination, there is a need for enhanced awareness through meaningful narratives, tools, and activities. To me, it is a day to acknowledge and honor women around the world for the contributions we make each day to society.
If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
If I were to have dinner with three inspirational women, the first one would be my mum. I grew up watching her go all out as a teacher, teaching us and all the children in the neighborhood; as a counselor, as a Nurse/Doctor when we were ill; as a farmer, a preacher, a tailor, etc. She was all in one.
Secondly, I would love to dine with Winnie Mandela, the Amazon that fought apartheid to a standstill.
Finally, I would be glad to dine with the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel who reigned and surpassed all expectations in a supposed men’s world.
Credits: This interview was published in Themetrolawyer (TML) on 8 March 2022
