By Rotimi Popoola
A lot of people follow the school of thought that male leaders in this part of the world don’t see the importance of women in accelerating the economic growth of any society. But I stand to disagree on that.
We have some that value the role of women, understand their importance, and give them a chance to exercise their values.
Among them is Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, who is fascinated with empowering women. It is something he prioritizes seriously.
Kashifu Inuwa has given unwavering support and commitment to women, recognizing them as global shapers. His belief resonates with this proverb that says, ‘when you educate a man, you educate an individual, but when u educate a woman, you educate a nation.
Inuwa, in his capacity, has chosen to make women inclusive in his goal to place Nigeria on the path to attaining 95% digital literacy on or before 2030. He identifies two major stakeholders in this vision, which are youth and women, and has been driving towards this goal.
So as not to make our women a product for the ‘other room’ alone, he has chosen to collaborate with several organisations in empowering our women to become assets to the community.
In accordance with Inuwa’s reasoning, gone are the days when we think women are weaker vessels. Though they might not have the strength to wrestle with men in physical battle, but in creative and innovation capacity, we cannot undermine their capacity that is why he has been an advocate for women empowerment and providing educational opportunities that can provide job opportunities.
As someone that has studied the bearers to gender inclusion which include educational level, legal biases, fund access denial and many more, and understands that if women are being empowered in innovation ecosystems, they will add to the global GDP, a whooping sum of 18 trillion US dollars and more. In view of that, he has dedicated some policies in favour of the women in partnership with Fasaha Gina Mata Gina Al-Umma Digital Skill Program, Microsoft, and many others to empower the youth and boost women inclusion.
All these virtues and efforts have endeared him to be recognized by United Nation Generation Equality which aided his invitation to the United Nation House, Abuja during the United Nation Women’s Showcase Event where young women and men uses technology to promote gender equality and empower women in Nigeria to commemorate the Women’s week.
As someone that keys into the ideology of United Nation believing that Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and, therefore, also half of its potential, he has been recognised by the United Nation for this unwavering support.
Gender equality, besides being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieving peaceful societies with full human potential and sustainable development. Kashifu has keyed into this knowledge so as to spur productivity and economic growth.
I feel delighted to have a person of Kashifu securing and seeking equal access to quality education and health, economic resources and participation in innovation technology for both women and girls(Female) and men and boys (youth in General).
Gender Equality was made part of international human rights law by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948. That milestone document in the history of human rights recognized that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” and that “everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, … birth or other status.”
Aligning with this fact, Kashifu sees every human with equal size of brain and same birth process which should not limit anyone to exhibit their God-given potentials.
In view of all of these, I congratulate our women for having such a person like Kashifu in our society as we celebrate them during the women’s month.
Rotimi Popoola is with NITDA
