Most of my writings are to encourage women to reject oppression —Prof. Martina Oguntoyinbo-Atere

Prof (Mrs) Martina Iyabo Oguntoyinbo – Atere is the Chief of staff to the Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State and member of both Global and African women theologians. In this interview with Xquisite, she speaks on how she combines theology with feminism.

Combining the home front with my career

That’s a very big question. It is always a big one for women as there is always so much they want to accomplish and there are usually challenges.  I would say that it’s by the help of God that l have come this far. To get to this level, it’s been a lot of praying, l don’t want to say  a lot of hard work because so many people have worked harder than l did and some are not yet there. I will therefore say that l gave my best not necessarily more than other people, but God also helped me.

 How I combine my religious background with my feminist stance

The feminist stance is even more pronounced in theology. I have been privileged to travel outside the country to handle issues on feminism. I belong to the global women doing theology. l also belong to the circle of African women theologians that was floated by a Ghanaian married to a Nigerian, Mercy Oduyoye. That actually exposed me early in my career.

Also as a little girl, l had always rejected oppression of any sort. So, l have found myself saying no to anything that is oppressive even in religion. As a religious person, l know that even in religious studies and the Bible, we have been opened up to see the fact that men wrote our stories for us. They could not have written such stories in any objective manners. It was the rule of the master, patriarchy which is exhibited in religion, exhibited in culture. As a woman in theology most of my researches and writings are to encourage other women to reject whatever is oppressive.

 On the law in the Senate, sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi that women should enjoy the same privileges as their male siblings in sharing of their father’s inheritance and the Sultan’s objection to the law

I will say that it is not a fair submission by the Sultan. He is not being fair to women. Women are created by God as men and we should have equal opportunities. When you educate a woman, you have educated a nation as they say because she will now impact on her children. You give your best to your parents and when they pass on, you say they cannot inherit them? Go and find out, when those parents were alive who actually took care of them more? It’s the women. In most cases before a man will remember his parents, the sisters would have done much more. As you are eating you remember your parents should eat, men may not care. Because of our kind hearted nature, we take care of our parents more than the men. So, this same woman that has done so much, you now say she has no right to inherit such a parent? Sometimes, most of the inheritance may even be from the woman (daughter). Though successful women may not be interested in inheritance, it’s only fair that such laws should not even be discussed. How could you deny the woman her right? It’s her right. Her birthright.

How I handle issues of morality in the University community

In our own University, we emphasise more on spirituality. I was in Lagos State University (LASU) for seven years after spending 10 years in U.I. In my little way, when l was in LASU, l used to reach out to students, wherever l was invited to talk and encourage them to live godly lives. For instance, l recalled that l had to challenge some students on their ‘nauseating’ attires. Some will tell you their parents bought the attires for them. Some of these students can be very rude but one would have done one’s own bit but fortunately, the setting at Adeleke University is faith based and we emphasise more on spirituality. For instance, my Vice Chancellor will always encourage me to talk to students as his chief of staff. There was a time that after talking to them, we also prayed together. Asides that, we have this women forum and l am the chair person. We do a lot of discussions bordering on morals and other issues. We cannot give up.

On my inaugural lecture

Well, the title was: Decolonisation of Lucan Garments of many Colinas, perspectives of an African woman theologian. Putting all my papers together was a task, not all, but definitely a good number of them. I told you l have always thought for women so, l realised that most of my writings have been on women issues, how they can come out of oppression and cultural practices that oppress women or women being the poorest of the poor because some of them do not have the opportunity to go to school. The face of poverty therefore tends, to be a woman’s when l was to start writing. I had to pray so that l write what l know l need to, exactly the way God wants it. I prayed like a baby and it worked. I remember that a colleague of mine,  she saw a friend who was among the audience who told her he came after listening to the announcements on radio. He said his curiosity was raised and at the end of the lecture, he went away satisfied. I really don’t see myself as doing anything alone, l know it is just God, it is a privilege.