Before you say, “Oh, but you’re not a man…”, relax, we’ll get there. This piece isn’t about me suddenly wanting to switch genders. It’s about you, as a man, and the role you play in accelerating gender equity. Because, believe it or not, this fight isn’t just for women; it’s for all of us.
Accelerating gender equity isn’t just an aspiration, it’s an urgent necessity. The world is facing a complex set of challenges, and time and time again, women, girls, and marginalised groups bear the heaviest burdens. From gender-based violence to economic exclusion, the playing field remains anything but level.
The staggering reality…
Let’s even just look at Nigeria alone, the statistics are sobering. The rate of gender-based violence and femicide continues to paint a grim picture.
- According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 1 in 3 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15.
- In 2023, a popular Nigerian musician was ordered by the Lagos State High Court to compensate a victim/survivor with a payment of ₦5,000,000 for leaking a sex tape which was reportedly recorded without her consent. Just wow!
- The rape and murder case of Uwavera Omzuwa caused a national outcry and led to the hashtag and movement for justice for victims and survivors. Omzuwa was a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin who was attacked and raped inside a church in Ikpoba Hill, Edo state, Nigeria.
In 2025 alone, almost two dozen women have died due to gender-based violence across Nigeria. According to Femicide Observatory, run by the Lagos-based nonprofit Document Our History (DOHS) Cares Foundation, there were 17 cases reported in January, a 240% increase from the same period last year, with an additional five by 16 February. More than 100 femicides were documented in 2024.
These numbers are not just statistics. They represent real lives, real pain, and a reality that demands urgent change. Every day, women navigate a world where their safety, opportunities and even their voices are under threat.
But let’s not make the mistake of thinking that gender equity is solely a “women’s issue.” The responsibility to achieve it lies in the hands of both women and men.
According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, gender equity won’t be achieved until 2158; that’s five whole generations from now! Let that sink in. If we keep moving at this pace, your great-great-granddaughter will still be having this same conversation. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is a call for urgency: we need to accelerate action.
If I were a man, I’d play my part…
For far too long, gender equity has been framed as a “women’s issue.” But the truth is, men have as much to gain from an equitable world as women do. A society that values fairness and inclusivity allows everyone, regardless of gender to reach their full potential.
Yet, patriarchal norms persist. These deeply ingrained beliefs privilege men at the expense of women, shaping everything from gender pay gaps to systemic violence. They also cultivate an environment where misogyny is normalised; where sexist remarks go unchallenged, and where men fail to see women in their full humanity.
If I were a man, I would make a conscious effort to break this cycle.
I would challenge sexist comments, no matter how “harmless” they seem.
I would call out misogyny in the workplace, in friendships, in family gatherings.
I would teach young boys that strength isn’t about dominance, but about respect.
And most importantly, I would not stay silent. Because looking away today only ensures that the problem persists tomorrow – for our sisters, mothers, nieces, and daughters. The more we look away, the faster these injustices reach those we care about.
But I am NOT a man, still, I won’t stay silent…
And so, I will continue to use my voice, will, and strength as a woman to push for change.
I will speak up, take up spaces, and demand action – not just for myself, but for the generations of women to come.
Gender equity isn’t an abstract idea. It’s a movement. It’s a commitment. And it requires all of us, men and women alike to accelerate progress. And the time to act is now.
#AccelerateAction
