Gendered States: Women’s Civil Society Activism in Nigerian Politics

Okome, Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké

doi:10.1057/9781137324535_5

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The pioneer women group to challenge the British policies during the colonial period was the Igbo women, who have a history of organizing themselves for social and communal development. Aba women were able to use indigenous mechanisms and strategies to organize, mobilize, and wage the Women's War of 1929 against the colonial government and its native authorities (Okome, 2016). The riot primarily centred on the protest against the imposition of tax by British colonial representatives and collective defence of women's role in the sphere of authority.…”

Section: Women's Activism: Pre-independence Eramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The LMWA was able to resist colonial attempts to tax women in 1932, using indigenous grassroots organizing tactics and the negotiating skills of a representative committee composed of women leaders like Madam Pelewura, who met with C.T. Lawrence, the administrator of Lagos Colony (Okome, 2016). The group fought the colonial government on two fronts: increase in taxable income and price control.…”

Section: Women's Activism: Pre-independence Eramentioning

confidence: 99%

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Failure to Meet up to Expectation: Examining Women’s Activist Groups in the Post-Colonial Period in Nigeria

Dagunduro

Adenugba

2020

Open Cultural Studies

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Women’s activism within various ethnic groups in Nigeria dates back to the pre-colonial era, with notable heroic leaders, like Moremi of Ife, Amina of Zaria, Emotan of Benin, Funmilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and many others. The participation of Nigerian women in the Beijing Conference of 1995 led to a stronger voice for women in the political landscape. Several women’s rights groups have sprung up in the country over the years. Notable among them are the Federation of Nigerian Women’s Societies (FNWS), Women in Nigeria (WIN), Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) and Female in Nigeria (FIN). However, majority have failed to actualize significant political, social or economic growth. This paper examines the challenges and factors leading to their inability to live up to people’s expectations. Guided by patriarchy and liberal feminism theories, this paper utilizes both historical and descriptive methods to examine these factors. The paper argues that a lack of solidarity among women’s groups, financial constraints, unfavourable political and social practices led to the inability of women’s groups in Nigeria to live up to the envisaged expectations. The paper concludes that, for women’s activist groups to survive in Nigeria, a quiet but significant social revolution is necessary among women. Government should also formulate and implement policies that will empower women politically, economically and socially.

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Section: Women's Activism: Pre-independence Eramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Women's Activism: Pre-independence Eramentioning

confidence: 99%