Young feminists in West Africa have been urged to collaborate with other activists, organisations, and communities to amplify their impact, and create lasting change.

They have also been tasked to remain dedicated to their values and goals, even in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

Head, Policy Influencing and Advocacy Unit, and Country Lead, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Omolara Balogun, and Executive Director, BAOBAB for Women’s Human’s Rights, Nigeria, Bunmi Dipo-Salami, stated this in Abuja at an inter-generational mentorship and training programme for young feminist leaders in West Africa.

The five-day capacity building workshop, which brought together young feminists from Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire, was to drive transformative change in the sub-region.

It was also meant to enable them to effectively challenge patriarchal norms, promote gender equality, and advocate women’s human rights in their respective countries, drawing from experiences of mentors.

The workshop was facilitated by WACSI and BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, with support from Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundation.

According to Balogun, collaboration and solidarity are crucial in the feminist movement, noting that young feminists must work together, support one another, and engage with other social justice movements to achieve meaningful change.

On her own, Dipo-Salami shared similar sentiment, saying: “People are always talking about feminists as frustrated women, men haters. But we came here to show them that you could be feminist and be married. I have been married for 32 years. Josephine was married before she lost her husband for 27 years. Ini has been married for over 30 years.”