Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi has expressed concern over Nigeria’s 22million child brides.
The author and feminist also declared that the country may not achieve the 2030 Sustianable Development Goals (SDGs).
She spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Abuja Chapter, June Reading/Writers Dialogue.
Addressing the gathering which included the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji; his immediate past, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele; Nigerian poet and academic, Prof. Tanure Ojaide; renowned author, Prof. Emeka Aniagolu; gender activist and lawyer Bukky Shonibare; development expert, Dr Otive Igbuzor; former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen among others, the guest writer also faulted the stereotype that political spouses are appendages of their partners.
Speaking on the theme ‘The writer as an advocate of social and political change’, the policy advocate said, “Few writers ever get rich from writing”.
She added: “I write to be heard, bear witness, teach and learn. They are a tiny percentage (of rich writers). I would like to believe that we do not write for money.
“Yet we are astronomically rich when it comes to imagination, creativity, passion, courage, envisioning and engineering. These are the attributes that help transform society.”
The former First Lady expressed concern that Nigeria features poorly on most global indicators that measure gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“The most recent gender gap index 2023 ranks Nigeria as 130th out of 146 countries,” Fayemi said.
“Nigeria has one of the largest maternal and infant mortality rate in the world at 12 percent, right after India with 17percent.
“Nigeria also has the highest number of child brides at 22million – the highest in West Africa – and the eleventh highest globally.
“Not only did Nigeria not meet any of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we might not meet most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2030 either.
“If by miracle we manage to meet a few of the targets, we will not meet SDG 5 which aims to achieve gender equality by ending all forms of discrimination, violence and any harmful traditional practices against women and girls.
“In Nigeria, we have approximately 3.5percent of women in the National Assembly. And when it comes to representation at state level, there are at least 15 out of 36 states where there are no women at all.”
Similarly, the author kicked against the notion that wives of political office holders have no identity of their own and living under the shadows of their husbands.
While calling on the 10th National Assembly to pass the five gender bills rejected by the 9th Assembly, she declared that “First Ladies are not your unlettered, ignorant, village girl that they bring to Government House”, citing some current and past First Ladies to buttress her argument.
“Over time, there has been this narrative that has emerged not only on our country but around the world about political spouses, First Ladies who are described as appendages of men in power, people who are just there to siphon resources and wield power in an undemocratic manner.
“But I would like us to note that this narrative is not the way it was years back. I have worked with sisters and governors’ wives and I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated professionals in their own rights that you can find anywhere. And I have two sisters here to give as example.
“Her Excellency, Zainab Bagudu, former First Lady of Kebbi State who is a paediatrician. And Her Excellency, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello, former First Lady of Niger State, an oncologist.
“Not to mention my successor, the current First Lady of Ekiti State Dr Yemi Oyebanji who is an Associate Professor at the University of Ibadan. There is no First Lady I know who was not doing anything before her husband became a governor,” she stated.
