2024 Girl Child Day: Letter to my fellow girls, ladies, women in Africa

Letter to my fellow girls, ladies, women in Africa

In a patriarchal society, where the female gender is seen to be inferior, less valuable, and limited, I tell you today that you are pregnant with a dream that needs to be unleashed.

Do not limit, or restrict yourself, know that the world needs you!

Stop teenage marriage, enough of a child-bearing responsibility. At the same time, embrace proper education and upbringing. You are an instrument of change to our society and the world.

A few good examples of women who made impact:

Hajiya Sambo Sawaba (1933-2001) was a Nigerian women’s right activist, politician and philanthropist. She is a campaigner against underaged marriage, forced labour and advocated for western education. She dropped out of school at age 13 after losing her parents and given out in marriage to Abubakar Garba who disappeared after her pregnancy. Her experience made her stood up against under age marriage especially in the Northern part of Nigeria which made her “pioneer of the northern women liberation”. Hajiya Sambo was imprisoned 16 times the period she was trying to expose other northern women to light and also when she stood against unpaid labour and unfair taxes. Being a school drop out didn’t limit her, she kept pushing and made sure that other women do not fall into the same pit she fell into. Even after giving birth she didn’t get discouraged. This should be a lesson to females. No matter the failures, we should never give up.

There are several other women who are change makers in Africa, I will mention few of them below. These are women who impacted Africa and the world at large.

* Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900-1978) was a Nigerian women’s rights activist, politician, and educator. She was a pioneering figure in Nigeria’s struggle for independence and women’s emancipation.

* Folorunsho Alakija (Nigeria) – Created jobs and supported education through her oil and gas business, All of these tell us that we are people of value who should use what we have to transform and make the world a better place.

Isabel dos Santos (Angola) – Became Africa’s richest woman through strategic investments.

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela (South Africa) – Fought tirelessly against apartheid, advocating for human rights. Winnie could be regarded as a mother, a good wife and an activist. Nigeria women in politics I charge us today let’s see her as a role model because her passion for change earned her the post . So let’s work for the betterment of the country and not being figure-head.

Ladi Kwali was born in the region of northern Nigeria, she had no formal education but, known all over for her creative art work. She was a potter. Her consistency in what she does made her the “pioneer of African Ceramic art modernism also the first female trainee at Abuja potter centre”. This woman couldn’t get a formal education yet she made impact.

Her consistency and hard work gained her global recognition that her image is at the back of Nigeria N20 naira note. If she had been discouraged with the fact that she was only a potter, the recognition and achievements she had, she wouldn’t have gotten them.

Whatever you find doing do it well. Do not be defined by the community you find your self. I charge us African women Consistency pays! Hard work pays!.

It’s high time you arise and make an impact. The world is waiting for you!

Theodore Roosevelt says “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” That dream that seems to be unachievable, believe and be intentional about it, then, you will see the result.

Hard Work and consistency pay.

To our female leaders out there, let’s live by example, and set a pace ahead for the upcoming ones.

With courage say to yourself, “I AM A GIRL CHILD I AM NOT A MISTAKE”.

By Bakare Adeola Zainab, a final year student of the department of philosophy Lagos state university also the president of the prestigious department.