缅北禁地

9 March 2018

Three Nigerian women will spotlight themes such as human trafficking, suicide bombing, and sexism and sexual harassment at the United Nations, showing the strength of women as agents of change in African societies often dominated by men.

鈥淲e have to see ourselves as part of the solution, not just as women reserved for sex or for the kitchen,鈥� author and Queen Blessing Itua told听缅北禁地News听ahead of a special event planned for this Sunday in the 缅北禁地General Assembly Hall.

鈥淯nity in Diversity: An Evening of Art and Hope with Nigerian Women鈥� will feature excerpts from Ms. Itua鈥檚 book 鈥淲e Are the Blessings of Africa,鈥� as well as monologues from Ifeoma Fafunwa鈥檚 HEAR WORD! and Nadine Ibrahim鈥檚 films 鈥淭olu鈥� and 鈥淭hrough Her Eyes.鈥澨�

The event is organized by听缅北禁地Women, the 缅北禁地Population Fund (UNFPA)听and the Nigerian Mission to the UN, with other partners.

鈥淎frica is a diverse continent, rich with different countries and different cultures, and natural resources. Africa has the talent 鈥� men and women,鈥� said Ms. Itua. 鈥淲hen men in Africa look at women, women are reserved just in the kitchen or at home. So there鈥檚 a need to shift thinking that women can be powerful agents of development, then they鈥檙e able to support and empower women.

鈥淚f women understand that they have a critical role to play, they do not see themselves as just wives or women at home, they also raise up into mental engagement with the men and hopefully strategize about developing our Mother Land,鈥� Ms. Itua continued.

Born in Nigeria and living in the United States, Ms. Itua said she wants to create awareness and give voice to women who do not have a platform to speak out about social ills, particularly rural women.

Her latest film,听Mrs. Adams, 鈥� which will premiere during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) next week 鈥� follows human trafficking routes in Nigeria and Europe. It is meant to be a statement not just about brutalization of women and sexual violence, but also highlight the economic reasons that people choose to migrate in the first place 鈥� to change some of the misinterpretations about exploitative work practices, forced labour and smuggling.

The issue is personal, Ms. Itua said. She hails from Edo state, which recently inaugurated a migration resource centre, and which has been cast in the spotlight after reports of Nigerians from that area being sold in modern slave markets in Libya. 听

鈥淎s an African woman, I believe that my goal is to work with other women in creating awareness. Together we are stronger. Working together to be stronger to change the narrative coming out of Africa,鈥� Ms. Itua said.

She will be joined this Sunday by 24-year-old Nadine Ibrahim, whose film听Through Her Eyes听follows the internal struggle of a 12-year-old female suicide bomber in northern Nigeria.

Ms. Ibrahim, who is a Muslim, has said that she wants people to understand the rich and beautiful culture surrounding women, Islam and north-eastern Nigeria.

The film was filmed with security on location and after the original actress鈥檚 mother pulled the daughter out of the film for fear of safety.

The Sunday night event will also feature Ifeoma Fafunwa, whose stage play 鈥淗EAR WORD! Naija Women Talk True鈥� is a collection of monologues based on true-life stories of Nigerian women challenging social, cultural and political norms in the country.

A line from the play declares: 鈥淚 have a vital contribution to my nation鈥檚 transformation. I am a force, a tidal wave, and I won鈥檛 hide. My destiny is not for you to decide.鈥�

Speaking to听缅北禁地News听from the airport enroute to New York, Ms. Fafunwa said it was incredibly relevant for HEAR WORD! to be showcased at the UN.

鈥淕ender parity is top of mind and women around the world are collaborating more than ever on change. It is wonderful for Nigerian women to play a role in highlighting these issues at the CSW [session] where persons who can affect policy from all over the world will convene.鈥�

The award-winning playwright added that the timing is particularly relevant given that Nigerians are grabbling with the abduction of another 100 girls by Boko Haram.

鈥淚t is important that we join in initiating these discussions. It also presents an opportunity to shift perceptions about what is possible for Nigeria and Nigerian women,鈥� Ms. Fafunwa added.

Cognizant of the many young women who will be looking at the 缅北禁地during the coming two weeks of the CSW, Ms. Fafunwa reflected on the possibilities that youth hold.

鈥淚 think young women have the biggest potential to create the change the world needs now 鈥� on every front. They are closest to the media and have the tools to be empowered, to connect and communicate. This is their time and as agreed, the time is now! 听Their votes count and collectively, they can make demands,鈥� Ms. Fafunwa said.

鈥淲hen I was younger, I felt disempowered and disconnected from leadership. 听That is not where we should be now.鈥�

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