By Henry Gabriel
Nigeria celebrates another historic achievement as Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, a prominent gender activist and Convener of Womanifesto, has been nominated to the United Nations Spotlight Initiative Global Reference Group (2024-2026).
This nomination recognizes her unwavering dedication to women’s rights in Africa and has sparked excitement within Nigeria’s human rights community.
Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founder of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Lagos, is a passionate advocate for gender rights.
Known as ‘The General’ and ‘The Mobilizer’ among CSO circles, she has led numerous projects at grassroots, national, and international levels.
Her nomination is a testament to her two decades of commitment to fighting for the rights of women and girls in Nigeria.
Speaking on the selection, Wemimo Adewumi, the Communication Manager of WARDC, expressed pride in Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi’s accomplishment. Spotlight Initiative, after reviewing 140 applications, chose her as one of the 17 members of the Global Reference Group.
In this role, she will collaborate with global leaders from various continents to combat all forms of violence against women and girls.
Her responsibilities include advising and ensuring accountability of Spotlight Initiative to civil society organizations.
The Spotlight Initiative is a flagship initiative of the European Union and the United Nations Secretary-General.
It is a global partnership aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific. The initiative addresses different forms of violence, such as domestic violence, trafficking, sexual and economic exploitation, and harmful practices.
WARDC congratulates Dr Akiyode-Afolabi on this well-deserved appointment and eagerly anticipates the significant impact she will make in her new role.
