Traditional rulers have called on fathers across Nigeria to champion equal treatment for boys and girls and to help dismantle cultural practices that marginalise women.
The call was made at thus year’s Fathers4Equality Recognition Awards and Traditional Leaders Conference, organised by the Male Feminist Network, an initiative of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, under the theme ‘Redefining Fatherhood for Equality and Justice.’
The Mai of Machina and 77th Emir of Machina, Dr Bashir Albishir Bukar, described the theme as apt, expressing concern over the discrimination women face in various societies. He said human dignity and rights were universal and urged participants to translate the conference’s lessons into concrete action.
‘All human beings were created equal and should enjoy equal rights irrespective of religious or other differences,’ Bukar said, adding that fathers should play an active role in promoting equality between sexes.
The monarch called for equal access to education for daughters and sons, noting that his emirate supports qualified young men and women to pursue university degrees without gender bias.
He urged traditional rulers to lead by example in shifting community attitudes toward gender justice.
The Paramount Ruler, Rumuevuorlu Community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Prof. Chris Akani, commended the centre for honouring traditional rulers who advance gender equity. He said his late mother’s forced withdrawal from school inspired his commitment to female education, adding that his two daughters were completing doctoral studies in statistics, French and African literature.
Akani urged parents and traditional leaders to promote positive family values, protect girls from early marriage and prioritise education as an equaliser.
The centre’s Executive Director, Monday Osasah, said fatherhood should be rooted in partnership and shared responsibility not domination, describing the initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation, as an effort to build a national movement of accountable male allies alongside women-led gender advocacy.