A coalition of experts, including educators, activists, and policymakers, has emphasized the crucial role of education in combating violence against women in Nigeria.
Their position was made known during the “Night of Ideas”Conference 2024, organised by French Embassy & the French Institute of Nigeria,with the theme: CITIES FOR WOMEN, FEMINIST CITIES.
The stakeholders who highlighted the importance of establishing a comprehensive mechanism to address this pressing issue emphasized the potential of education as a powerful tool in combating the problem.
At the event, prominent human rights activist/advocate for child and gender rights, Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, pointed out that both boys and girls are affected by the impacts of patriarchy, influenced by religious, traditional, and cultural factors.
He stressed the importance of men setting positive examples in both public and private settings, drawing from his own experiences to illustrate the significance of responsible behaviour.
“Feminists need to also learn the language of advocacy so that the war looks like a gender war. We need to learn diplomacy; diplomacy is learning how to tell a man in a nice way to go to hell and he looks forward to the trip,” he said.
Also, speaking the Pioneer of the Feminist movement, Miss Yemisi Ransome-Kuti, said while it imperative for women to look out for themselves, having labels like feminism can be detrimental to the struggle.
“I don’t like the boxes or the tags. Once you label something then the opposite challenge comes and we now create another group that says we are something else. Women are in a way responsible due to the way they bring up the male child calling them the head,” she said.
The Director of the French Institute in Nigeria, Thierry Valentin, emphasized the critical need for increased male involvement in the fight against violence toward women in the country.
He noted that addressing this societal issue effectively requires men to be more proactive in promoting gender equality and supporting efforts to eradicate violence.
The Cultural Attaché at the French Embassy, Emmanuelle Harang, emphasized the existence of protective laws for women and children in Nigeria, stress the need for consistent implementation.
She encouraged all citizens, both men and women, to be deliberate about supporting one another, to prevent any form of violence and promote safety for everyone.
