AAUA Scholar, Omoniyi, seeks for urgent action to end gender discrimination

Prof. Mary Banke Omoniyi has called for decisive and collaborative measures to dismantle entrenched cultural norms that promote gender-based discrimination in Nigeria.

The scholar made the appeal on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, during the 45th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, which she delivered under the theme, “Sentenced by Anatomy: The Dilemma of the Nigerian Woman.”

Prof. Omoniyi, who declared that, “Discrimination against women begins even before birth”, identified harmful practices such as “hating the birth of a girl child, vilifying a woman, violating her, and discriminating against her in terms of gender, affinity, marital status, and beauty” as persistent social problems that hinder women’s progress in the country.

Drawing from years of research, she described Nigerian women as “an endangered species and victims of their biological make-up,” lamenting that their societal contributions are often overlooked.

She lamented, “Women have always tried their best but with limited success. Their efforts are scarcely recognized even when they make sacrifices and go out of their way to do things. This has resulted in many setbacks economically, politically and psychologically for the women folk.”

The professor warned that without significant reform, national development would remain hampered.

“Since being born as a woman was not by choice but by nature’s design, women should be afforded the opportunity complementary to their role in society and should not be underrated as second fiddle in any sphere of life,” she emphasised.

She recommended a “cognitive reorientation for both genders,” gender equality education in schools, compulsory free education for girls up to secondary level, and constitutional provisions reserving at least 30% of political offices for women.

Prof. Omoniyi also proposed setting up counselling centres, microfinance initiatives for women, a national sex offenders register, and stricter enforcement of laws against verbal and psychological abuse, saying, “The society should cease to see women from the prism of commodity, and recognize them as proper partners in progress with their male counterparts in national development.”

She added, “The Nigerian police and other law enforcement agents should be legally bound to seriously take gender violence and discrimination against the female folks more seriously and desist from treating such with levity regarding it as “private and family affairs.”

On the economic front, she stressed the importance of family planning to reduce the pressures on mothers and promote balanced family life. 

“Despite the recent increase in the wages of Nigerian workers, many families still find it difficult to make ends meet; men alone can no longer shoulder the family responsibilities. It is therefore counselled that the number of children should no longer be seen as ‘given’ by God as the number of children in the home plays a significant role in stress experienced by mothers. Therefore, family planning should be encouraged to alleviate these pressures in order to achieve a more balanced family life.”

Referencing international commitments, Omoniyi reminded Nigeria of its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which the country ratified in 1992.

She warned, “Implementation cannot be delayed if we are serious about sustainable development. 

The international laws on the elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women adopted since 1979 and ratified in 1992 by more than 100 member states of United Nations including Nigeria should be implemented fully without delay. Moreover, Nigeria as a prominent United Nations member, should be actively involved in the implementation of the various UN resolutions, calling for the integration of women into the mainstream of national development as a tool for sustainable development.”

In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Omoniyi for her dedication to scholarship and her contributions to guidance and counselling. 

He noted that her work has not only enriched academic discourse but also offered practical solutions to real-life challenges.