2019 and the Nigerian woman
VOICE! Justice, Parity, Equality, Rights, Affirmation, Inclusion, Empowerment, Access, Opportunity, Leadership, Jobs, EqualPay, UnderRepresentation, Financing, GenderGap, Legislation, Peace, Education, Culture, Tradition, Religion, Beliefs, Reproductive Health, Violation, Harassment, Kidnapping, Murder, Abduction, Abuse, Early Marriage, FGM, Trafficking, Early/Child Marriage, Discrimination; these and many more have formed part of the global gender lexicon. Any of the above is freely summoned and assigned duties positively or negatively depending on the natural orientation, literacy level, exposure and or mood of whomever is paying the Piper of the day. Everyone looks on. Some lend a shoulder, some whisper, some shout out with rage. Nothing happens. Life goes on.
The agitation for equality, women’s rights, gender parity has been with us from time and gaining new grounds with each passing year.
Conversely, the tools of democratizing patriarchy in our society, advanced by gender activists and feminists have in themselves gained creative dimensions as each generation adopts new paradigms of stemming the inequality tide.
With the liberalization era of the spoken word a.k.a. Social Media and the #hashtag phenomenon, today’s woman has learnt how to crawl out of her inner chamber to #BreakTheSilence #PressForProgress #SayNoToGenderBasedViolence and raise her hand to proclaim #HearMeToo .
The year 2018 saw a lot more women coming together to articulate #WhatWomenWant to the leadership. Despite the “man’s world” notion of the political space in Nigeria, 2018 being a pre-election year witnessed an unprecedented number of female aspirants stepping boldly into the electoral arena to give their leadership aspirations a chance. The outcomes of the various political party primaries left much to be desired as we witnessed equally unprecedented cases of discrimination and outright disenfranchisement against a number of the female aspirants. As unpleasant as the news sounded, it has been an indication of the embedded good news. The ground is shifting. The Nigerian woman is not only pressing for progress, but making impactful progress. It is in the magnitude and depth of the resistance that we know that fear is in itself afraid.
What does 2019 represent for the Nigerian woman? What do we look out for? In 2019, we will witness less Nigerian women taking up roles as Chief Moaners.
In the workplace and business world, more Nigerian women will boldly venture out into groundbreaking collaborations. The fringe-sitting season is coming to an end and the Nigerian woman will be saying a more affirmative NO to dregs.
As an election year, there will be a general affectation of mindset across the country as Nigerians take a decisive stand on who gets to receive the collective mandate to preside over the welfare of our probably-over-200million citizens. This represents an evolutionary opportunity for gender dynamics in the country. Consequently, we should expect to witness the Nigerian woman showcasing a bolder share of Voice during the baking and cutting ceremonies of the 2019 National Cake Bakery Cycle. If in doubt, look no further than Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) Presidential Candidate for the February 2019 Elections. I will let your imagination appraise the possibilities of an Oby-led Presidency. At a recent meet the candidate session with female leaders of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria, she affirmed that an Oby-led Federal Executive Council will achieve 50% Gender Parity. Has your mind caught up with the possibilities yet? I can hear the ‘frightened’ voices in your head whisper loudly, not at all, Nigeria is not ready for a female President! My response, who has the bell in their hands to ring the bell? Whose job will it be to ring the bell when Nigeria will be acceptably ready for a female President? Who will blow the whistle for when the time is right? Who has the requirement template for what the ideal female Presidential Candidate for Nigeria should look like or what qualifications she must possess to be found worthy? Can’t you see? The evolution train is about to leave you behind. There is Yesterday, there is Today, there is Tomorrow, and then there is the Unknown. For now, just Imagine!
In 2019, women organizing and mobilizing will assume a more strategic and futuristic form. The Nigerian woman is at the point where she understands more about the collective strength in numbers. Nigerian women will be re-aligning their multi-sectoral skillsets, building new and stronger alliances and positioning for the long haul.
The affirmative action messaging is going to be more pronounced, reformed and data-driven.
2019 for the Nigerian woman is going to be a year of transformation, innovation and pragmatism.
She will be driven by intentionality of purpose and convictions.
She will not be in the other room beyond the exigencies of the room’s requirement.
She will be disruptive without losing her femininity.
She will have a VOICE!