Gender scholars have charged young girls to challenge socio-cultural stereotypes hindering their development and inspire inclusion in their engagements with people and societies.
The scholars made this charge on Thursday in Ibadan during the 2024 WORDOC Girls’ Summit themed ‘Girl inspiring inclusion’ organised by the Women’s Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC) domiciled at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI), with support from the MacArthur Foundation, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and the Centre for Applied Ethics and Political Communication in Africa (CAEPOCOM Africa).
WORDOC Girls’ Summit commenced in 2018 as an annual meeting for girls aged 10 -18.
The summit’s host and Director of the Institute of African Studies, UI, Professor Sola Olorunyomi, through ancient Yoruba stories, told the girls how important women are in the family and society. He also told personal stories of how women contributed to the success of his education as a young boy.
Olorunyomi told the girls not to allow anyone to tell them they are not important or deny them space to contribute meaningfully to society.
“We should not give up on each and one another as friends,” he charged the girls.
The Coordinator of WORDOC and Associate Professor at the Institute of African Studies, UI, Dr Sharon Omotoso, stressed that there is something more about being a girl, which girls should strive to discover.
Omotoso added that life is not as smooth as most people think ─ and that, even though failure is part of life, girls should not be discouraged when they fail. Rather, they should keep developing themselves.
On inclusion, she encouraged the girls to always carry their friends who are not as good or brilliant as them along in the things they do so that everyone will be on the same page in the journey of development.
She also encouraged the girls to be creative, to support one another, and to obey their parents as they guide them through life.
On mentorship, Omotoso urged the girls to “emulate only the good traits of their mentors.”
Mrs Oyebanke Oyelaja-Kayode, a PhD student at the Institute of African Studies, UI, and Ewaoluwanimi Omotoso of the Faculty of Law, Ajayi Crowther University, anchored the session ‘Issue in gender identity’.
They spoke on feminism and why respecting all genders and developing themselves to live impactfully in all walks of life is the goal.
They further noted that being a feminist does not mean they should neglect their home chores. Rather, they should balance their home activities with their career and future aspirations.
Dr Adetoun Oyelude, the Deputy Librarian of the Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, used her personal story to demonstrate to the girls that a tweak in their life ambitions should not deter them from excelling wherever life leads.
Oyelude said that inclusion entails letting people know what you are doing ─ accommodating and tolerating them as you do it, even when they do not believe in you or behave the way you do.
“If you want to include someone else, you must have love in you. You must love your neighbour as yourself,” she said.
Dr Bola Aina of the Department of Education Foundations and Counselling Psychology, Lagos State University, facilitated the session on ‘Inspire Inclusion’.
Aina stated that the issue of gender inclusion is a concept that shapes perceptions, influences cultures, and defines collective values, adding, “understanding is crucial for creating a more inclusive and respectful society for males and females.”
Aina stated that though inclusion means carrying everyone along, girls should have confidence and believe in themselves to effectively achieve the essence of inclusion.
She listed the factors that affect and influence gender inclusion to include: education, workplace policies, social norms, media, legal framework, political representation, among others.
Aina mentioned notable Nigerian and African women who have broken gender stereotypes and distinguished themselves globally in male-dominated positions and spaces.
In light of this, she told the girls, “Do not have friends for having sake. Be friends with people that will support you and your dreams.”
Dr Maria Ekpenyong, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, UI, said she was happy that young girls are aspiring to inclusion, she urged the girls to learn everything they could about inclusion and teach their friends and neighbours who were not opportune to be at the summit.
“Go out and inspire others and live by example,” she told the girls.
In the course of the event, there were group discussions on sexuality, media, and information literacy. Odunayo Odedoyin anchored the session on ‘Entering digital space through entrepreneurial skills’ where the girls were taught how to make beads.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then