All over the world, women and children have been reported to bear the brunt of every conflict affecting any region, be it war, insurgency, famine, insecurity, etc, with some subjected to rape, sexual assault, forced marriages, sexual slavery, and so on.
In Nigeria as the issue of insecurity persists, women have over the years been seen as “soft targets” by terrorists and kidnappers. To mention a few, the kidnapping of Dapchi and Chiboks girls, Jangebe girls, and breastfeeding mothers that were kidnapped in Zamfara state are typical examples of how women have it worse in conflict-ridden regions.
As today marks International Women’s Day which is globally celebrated on the 8th of March every year, the theme for this year is “Choose to Challenge”, the objectives being to uphold women’s achievement, recognize challenges, and focus on women’s rights and gender equality. Here at Roots Tv Nigeria, we would like to celebrate these 5 women who have remained strong amidst all odds.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Nigerian-American Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is an Economist and International Development Expert who was the first female to serve as Nigeria’s Finance Minister twice under two different Presidents, and also the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.
On February 15th, 2021 she also became the first female and African Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Leah Sharibu
Leah Sharibu was among the 110 Dapchi girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect from the Government Girls Day Secondary School, Dapchi, Yobe State on the 19th of February, 2018. Despite all efforts by the government to secure her release together with the others in March 2018, she remains in the custody of her captives to date because she reportedly refused to renounce her Christian faith.
Ibukun Abiodun Awosika
Ibukun Abiodun Awosika is a Nigerian businesswoman, motivational speaker, and author. A fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network, Ibukun in 2011, co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a career center established in order to checkmate the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria. On September 7, 2015, Ibukun became the first woman to be appointed Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria following the resignation of Prince Ajibola Afonja. She is a member of IESE’s International Advisory Board (IAB) and she sits on several corporate boards like Cadbury Nigeria PLC and Digital Jewel Ltd. She hosts a T.V programme called Business His Way, and also starred in the 2020 film “Citation” alongside Temi Otedola produced by Kunle Afolayan.
Amina J. Mohammed
Amina J. Mohammed is a Nigerian diplomat and Politician. From 2012, Mohammed was a key player in the Post-2015 Development Agenda process, serving as the Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 development planning. She was Nigeria’s Minister of Environment between 2015-2017 after which she became the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations in January 2017 when the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced his intention to appoint her as Deputy Secretary-General.
Asisat Oshoala
Asisat Oshoala is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for the Spanish side FC Barcelona female team. Oshoala who was nicknamed Seedorf was named the best player at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and was the top goalscorer at the tournament with seven goals. She also won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2015. In September 2014 Oshoala was made a Member of the Order of the Niger by President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan.
