Dr Amina Salihu, Deputy Director of the Africa Office at the MacArthur Foundation, has commended Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, describing his marriage to former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, as a powerful example of mutual respect and equality.
In an open letter to mark International Women’s Day, Dr Salihu highlighted how their relationship challenges entrenched patriarchal norms and offers a model for healthier partnerships in a society where traditional gender roles and gender-based violence remain prevalent.
Referring to a 2012 British Council report on gender in Nigeria, Dr Salihu noted that many young women still justify spousal abuse, with one in three women experiencing gender-based violence from an intimate partner. She emphasised that religion has often been misused to reinforce patriarchal structures but praised Pastor Ezekwesili, a clergyman of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, for demonstrating how faith can instead promote gender equality.
“A woman is a helpmate, not merely a helper,” she wrote, lamenting the widespread perception that women are appendages rather than equal partners in marriage. She also highlighted the couple’s ability to maintain warmth and affection after decades of marriage, recounting a moment when Pastor Ezekwesili publicly referred to his wife as “baby” during a 2022 graduation ceremony for the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG).
Dr Salihu underscored the importance of role models in shaping societal attitudes towards marriage, noting that many young people fear that love fades after marriage. She stressed that strong, respectful partnerships like that of the Ezekwesilis can help change these perceptions.
Beyond their marriage, she praised Dr Oby Ezekwesili’s leadership in spearheading initiatives like the #FixPolitics Movement and SPPG, which aim to cultivate a new generation of leaders to combat corruption and improve governance across Africa.
“With better governance, our economies would be stronger, and communities would thrive,” she wrote, emphasising the broader impact of their work on society.
Dr Salihu’s letter serves as both a tribute and a call for more relationships built on equality, mutual respect, and shared purpose, particularly in a society where gender dynamics often place women at a disadvantage.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then