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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, New York
Experts have called for stronger male support in advancing gender equality at the third panel session of Nigerian Women’s Day in New York, held on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
The session, organised by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs under the theme: ‘31 Years of Progress, Resilience, Impact and Renewed Hope’, and tagged ‘Positive Masculinity: Men as Partners in Justice and Gender Equity’, featured male and female leaders from diplomacy, civil society, traditional institutions and human rights advocacy.
A Rwandan-Unitws Kingdom-based professional accountant and diaspora advocate, Adi Enitan Okuyelu, who moderated the discussion, emphasised that gender advancement must include men as allies.
“Men have a significant role to play in the advancement of women and girls. We must move from interesting ideas to real action by ensuring men use their influence to open spaces for women to thrive,” Okuyelu stated.
Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, stressed that achieving equality goes beyond rhetoric.
“At ActionAid, you can’t have a male board chair and a male vice-chair. Our system ensures inclusiveness. Positive masculinity starts with deliberate frameworks that give women equal room to lead,” Mamedu stated.
Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, emphasised that women’s rights are fundamental human entitlements.
“What women are asking for is their right, not a privilege. Men have captured these rights for centuries; it’s time to let go,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Olufunmilola Disu, President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), urged families to model gender equality from home.
“If we make girls wash plates and let boys sit idle, what kind of husbands are we raising? We must teach boys to share responsibilities,” she said.
Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said sustainable gender equality could only be achieved through partnership with men.
“You can’t have equality by speaking only to women. We must raise boys who respect girls so they grow into men who uplift women,” she said.
