‘Women Should Advocate For Fair , Not Equal Treatment’ Aisha Babangida At She Forum Africa

Hajia Aisha Babangida, the chairperson Better Life Program for Africa Rural Woman brings a frank approach into agitation for equal treatment with men by women and why the female gender is better off as an entrepreneur amongst other vital positioning as it relates the feminism

At the recent SHE Forum Africa organised by Premium Logic,Her Excellency Hajia Aisha Babangida; Chairperson Better Life Program for Africa Rural Woman said
She believes in the woman who is able to stand up for herself, a woman who faces the world with her head held high, with the universe embedding in her heart. This best captures the doctrine of Hajia Aisha Babangida, the daughter of former Nigeria Military President, General Babangida, a woman who is determined to empower the African Rural Woman, a woman who will not stop until African women, even in rural areas, are looked upon with reverence.
Aisha Babangida

This years’ September 1st 2015 SHE Forum Africa Conference was yet again graced by Hajiya Aisha. As expected, the phenomenal woman tackled the issues affecting women and Africa and was distinguishingly passionate in airing her views.

The conference Theme “Risk The Unusual: Make It Happen” triggered the awareness and understanding that every aspiring woman will have to adopt new and improved strategies of pursing her personal development, no matter what each one’s peculiar need may be in this regards. The event brought together remarkable and dynamic women from multiple generations whose voices are disrupting traditional notions of gender, feminism and persisting development issues affecting women in Africa. Aisha strongly holds that Feminism is human rights and if one believes in human rights, individual rights and equality then he/she is feminist whether he/she admits it or not. She did not hesitate to bring this view to the fore as she gave her speech.

The Chairperson’s speech at the start of the ceremony recapped, thoughts and perspectives that emphasized the need for Women to cultivate and strengthen the network of strong a emerging voice. Hajia Aisha Babangida’s speech captured the need to place the education of the girl child as an utmost priority as well as the need to offer scholarships to girls in the rural communities, the need to mobilize, mentor, and support each other regardless of social status, the need to speak with one voice, to support each other financially, politically, strategically, the need to establish and support policies geared at women empowerment, health and education. Her speech also emphasized another type of education which is cultural and religious education which will encourage the next generation to be educationally, culturally, religiously informed, on the equality of women and of men. The exemplary icon explained that feminism is a natural gift that only women have; therefore, they do not need to ask permission to show it in its natural state. Their very nature defines it and molds it for them.

As Aisha rightly noted, one of the biggest issues traditional feminists face is that of equal pay to men in the positions that they are holding. So when it comes to redefinition of feminism, she truly believes all women should own their own businesses and set their own pay. She explains that the best approach is through entrepreneurship. In her usual direct and pragmatic manner,Hajiya Aisha said she personally understands the word ‘’equal’’ to mean uniform in size, degree and value and considered to be alike. Therefore she is not a man, and her values differ from her brothers. So as she said, the word ‘’fairly’’ which means to treat with justice should be used rather than word “equally”