First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Advocates for Gender-Sensitive Education to Combat Violence in Africa
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Advocates for Gender-Sensitive Education to Combat Violence in Africa
L-R First Lady of Mozambique Mrs Isaura Nyusi, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu, President of Angola Manuel Goncalves Lourenco and his wife Dr Ana Dias Lourenco at the official launch of the #WeAreEqual campaign by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, OAFLAD in Luanda, Angola on Friday 9th August 2024
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the importance of implementing a gender-sensitive curriculum to challenge stereotypes and promote gender equity. Speaking at the launch of the #WeAreEqual campaign in Angola, under the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), she highlighted the pivotal role of education in shaping societal attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors from an early age.
Senator Tinubu stressed that education is not merely about acquiring knowledge and skills but also about instilling values of respect, empathy, and understanding. She argued that integrating gender equity into the educational system could lead to a societal shift where boys and men respect and value women and girls as equals, thereby reducing the likelihood of engaging in violent behavior.
The First Lady decried the rising incidents of gender and domestic violence, including rape and defilement, noting that an educated and well-informed populace would be better equipped to abstain from such harmful behaviors. She has chosen education as the driving force behind the #WeAreEqual campaign and has specifically adopted the Alternative High School for Girls as a focus of this initiative.
"The journey towards achieving gender equity requires collective efforts," Senator Tinubu stated, urging all Nigerians to commit to this crucial cause for the sake of current and future generations.
In his address at the conference, Angolan President Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço called on the First Ladies to use their influence to address global conflicts, emphasizing that women and children are often the most affected. He praised OAFLAD's efforts to ensure that women have an audible voice in building a society where men and women enjoy equal rights and opportunities.
Angola's First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, reaffirmed her commitment to the fight against rape and vowed to enhance legislation to ensure that perpetrators are appropriately punished.
The #WeAreEqual campaign, launched in Angola, focuses on the role of education in achieving gender equality as a means to combat child and youth violence. The event was attended by the First Ladies of São Tomé, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and representatives from other countries, marking another significant step by OAFLAD in advancing women's equity across Africa.
**Signed:**
Busola Kukoyi
SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
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