Kole Shettima: How MacArthur Foundation supports women through gender-inclusive initiatives

Kole Shettima, director of the MacArthur Foundation’s Nigeria office in Abuja, says supporting women through gender inclusion will contribute significantly towards fostering sustainable development.

Shettima said this in his remarks at the ‘What Women Can Do’ virtual competition organised by the Akin Fadeyi Foundation.

The competition, launched in July, focuses on increasing women participation in governance.

The Akin Fadeyi Foundation, a MacArthur Foundation grantee established in 2016, is a communication for change centre that is focused on human rights, sustainable political, socio-economic, gender inclusion and environmental transformation.

The ‘What Women Can Do” competition was targeted at demonstrating women’s abilities to contribute towards governance as part of the efforts to improve gender inclusiveness.

Speaking as a special guest at the event, Shettima said the competition is part of the MacArthur Foundation’s efforts to support women on visualising a society free from corruption and gender imbalance.

“At the MacArthur Foundation, we have always up held diversity, equity, and inclusion as an affirmation of our values. Hence, we have always, therefore, been attentive to gender equality and equity in our engagements, recruitment and other spheres of our work,” he said.

“We prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion and have always been enthusiastic to ensure [gender equality and social inclusion] GESI enhances our anti-corruption, accountability, transparency, and participation outcomes.

“This is why what Akin Fadeyi Foundation is doing here — stimulating the energy of Nigerian women to envision a corrupt-free society — is part of a strategic design template for governance.

“Having women lend their voices to what they will do against corruption if they have a shot at power is also very appropriate, because corruption is the reason misappropriated funds leave women vulnerable to the deficits occasioned by lack of the infrastructure or amenities that guarantee relative comfort for women more than men.”

He added that the low participation of women in politics has also caused a setback in the efforts to achieve gender inclusion.

“There is no gainsaying that there are drawbacks in a patriarchal dominated political/governance environment and this is why this platform for the Nigerian women and girls is germane as we continue to raise the bar in gender inclusive, or if you like, gender parity narratives,” he added.

“While the prizes at stake incentivise voice action, the contestants present today should begin to embrace the bigger picture which is how this exercise by one of our grantees, the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, opens such vista for them to play a part in mainstreaming gender as a crucial theme in our nation’s policy formulation.”

MEET THE WINNERS

Oluwabukunmi Abraham, law student, Babcock University

I am extremely passionate about Nigeria. When I saw the Akin Fadeyi Foundation post on Instagram, I immediately knew that this was a competition for me. I am an apt believer that the growth of Nigeria has been stifled by awful governance and we are yet to scratch the surface of our potential as a country.

People often underestimate the effects of bad leadership so it is important that as we look for solutions, we consider that the leadership we seek as a nation is not limited by tribe, ethnicity and most importantly, gender. The opportunities that elude women in Nigeria, particularly when it comes to leadership, is as a result of our lack of understanding as a people that a good leader lies in the quality of person, and not in their skirt or trousers. The ability of a person to inspire and advocate for change whilst proffering excellent solutions to support that change is what makes an excellent leader, and this view must be adopted by all Nigerians for us to reap the benefits of our land flowing with milk and honey.

Where agbadas and well-polished smiles have failed the nation, where do the populace look to? We look to intellect and sound minds ready to fight tooth and nail for the welfare of the people. We look to the heart that inspires hope in the lives of many. We look to the overlooked women of this great country and we give them the opportunity to prove that greatness is only amplified by their womanhood and not limited by it.

I’m grateful for the opportunity and I look forward to my Great Nigeria. Thank you.

Oreoluwa Pero Aladejuyigbe, news anchor and programmes presenter at Petals FM, 102.3, Ibadan 

My biggest motivation to join the competition: A friend encouraged me to participate in the competition and I saw it as opportunity to prove my strength and beyond winning, I saw an opportunity to be in a community that is solution driven towards critical issues in our society.

My biggest lesson is that there’s certainly nothing you desire to achieve that you can’t if only you believe and work hard toward it. There’s a community of bright minds out there who are doing great things to see that Nigeria becomes a better country.

I’m optimistic that we can build a corrupt-free gender-inclusive relationship if we continue to educate the public about the imbibing the right anti-corruption practices, maintain ethical standards in our public offices, and strengthen our laws to discipline corrupt persons.

Mariam Dauda Longe, TV Host at TVC Lagos; children book author, environmental protection advocate

When I entered this competition, winning was not the focus for me. I was more enamored with the platform it offered for us, a hitherto marginalised gender group, to lend our voices to issues that have to do with governance.

As an on-air personality, I join my team at ‘Your View’ on TVC to review daily issues bordering on governance. This competition opened such opportunity to not only talk about governance, but to also talk about how corruption has affected us as a nation and why we should all focus policy direction at it and realise that corruption affects women a lot. I am privileged to have been part of this. Coming third has served as a boost to my confidence and has given me the CAN-DO ability the more. It’s truly a fulfilment of ‘What Women Can Do!’

Chimdalu Nnenne, 300-level medical student, Ebonyi State University

I am also a cryptocurrency enthusiast and an advocate for bringing more women into the money industry. We shouldn’t leave the money-making to just the males.

Learning about the Akin Fadeyi Foundation was one of my most thrilling experiences this year. I got to hear about it from my friend, who said to me, “I saw this competition on Instablog9ja. They are real and it’s something I know you can do.”

I have always debated in my secondary school days and participated in speaking competitions, but not on one of this magnitude where I get to meet different calibres of beautiful, talented women. I was so happy when I was called up as third runner-up!

Apart from the competition, learning about the FLAGit app under this foundation gave me happy chills. People are out there who understand that abused women and children are being shut up by society, including their fellow women! And creating a platform to report cases without facing the antagonism of the people around them is exactly what we need. Thank you, AFF!

We shouldn’t be scared of women in politics. We should be scared of the world envy that will arise as a result of the beautiful world women can create for Nigeria.

Rafat Salawudeen, motivational speaker

The Akin Fadeyi Foundation did not discriminate against us. Everyone, irrespective of status, was given a level-playing field. I gave my best because it suddenly felt like I was pitching about governance that caters to the inclusion of women. ‘What Women Can Do’ has indeed fired up my CAN-DO spirit. I will now have to take this to my community. Every girl who thinks she cannot, actually CAN!

Rachael Aina Oloye (nee Omomogbe), part-time lecturer, department of office and technology management, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo state 

‘What Women Can Do’ has spurred my energy towards one of my biggest dreams in life, and I must commend the Akin Fadeyi Foundation for coming up with this competition in such a time like this. The ‘What Women Can Do’ competition was an eye-opener to the fact that our hope as a country is not totally lost, as I was able to come across women with great determination and ideologies on how to make Nigeria a better place.

A gender-inclusive corrupt-free country is not far-fetched when we set our priorities right. This is not a matter of extortion or amassing wealth; it is basically about fulfilling purpose and making the world a better place. When I cease to pay much attention to myself, when other people really matter to me, when the quest for a tension-free society becomes my priority, then we can actually break new grounds and make a difference in Nigeria.