By Bababunmi Agbebi
On March 8, the world marked International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Accelerate Action’. It serves as a stark reminder of the lingering gaps in gender equality, particularly in Nigeria and Africa. Despite progress in enacting gender-responsive laws and policies, women in Nigeria continue to face daunting challenges, from deep-seated patriarchal norms and cultural barriers to economic exclusion and gender-based violence.
A visit to Emina Crescent community off Toyin street in Ikeja, host to mostly educated and elite individuals share their thoughts on issues that involve women’s participation and some that are reserved for the men.
Agnes (Not real name) in her mid-60s, a wife and Grandmother said her community involves both genders in decision making these days “The men have no choice(laughs), most of the Landlords in this area are dead and their wives are in charge, so tell me why won’t we be involved in what happens on our street”
Tope (Not real name), a 60-year-old new retiree says she leaves community meetings for her husband to handle, “Daddy handles community meetings and contributions but you see this gutter, I supervise the cleaning of it. I’m a retired health officer, so I don’t joke with dirt but all that gate repairs and all, my husband knows that one”
An elder in the community, in his late 80s, says since his early days in the community in the 1980s, women have always been involved. “Our wives have always been key decision makers in the community. When we have community get togethers, our wives are major organizers, it’s a pity my wife can’t really move now, she advises children who are being naughty on the streets. We are one good family here and we don’t fight about who is superior in the community. We’ve had female Chairmen too”
As much as we celebrate the involvement of women in this community, more work has to be done in sensitizing the older generation of women that they are not second-class citizens and they shouldn’t wait to be widows before making an impact but in fact they are builders of the community.
