A political economist and Director of the Commonwealth Institute, Prof. Anthony Kila, has called on women to fight for the right to give their surnames to the children they give birth to.
He made this call over the weekend while delivering the keynote address at the International Women’s Day celebration organised by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) in Lagos.
According to Kila, “Women need to embrace their identity, defend their diversity, and reject assimilation.”
Kila, who is also a public affairs analyst, suggested that women should resist the urge to merely react to male narratives and instead “identify strong, out-of-the-box battles and push their agenda too.”
He explained, “While it is possible to dispute the paternity of a child, it is almost impossible to dispute the maternity. Therefore, it makes more sense to name children after their mothers.”
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Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, urged women to be more collaborative and to earn their demands, especially in relation to their male counterparts.
The FAAN MD also announced a series of mentorship programmes for FAAN staff in a bid to empower and help more women progress in their careers and other legitimate endeavours.
Agreeing with the FAAN MD, Prof. Kila urged women to be gatekeepers of merit and values, discouraging those who seek to use their femininity instead of merit, or gossip instead of hard work, to outdo others.
The event was attended by FAAN management, other organisations, and key stakeholders.
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