Women need empowerment beyond food, cash handouts – Falana

Special Adviser to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Gender Matters, Mrs Olamide Falana is a woman passionate about challenging stereotypes. In this interview with PETER DADA, the one-time governorship aspirant under the Democratic People’s Party, dives into the ongoing gender debates in Ondo State and across Nigeria, shedding light on the persistent struggles between the sexes, the cultural myths holding women back, and what needs to change for true equality to be achieved

As a gender advocate, how far do you think the patriarchal Nigerian society will accept gender equality?

One major challenge is the societal understanding of gender issues. There are still men who believe gender equality is about women overpowering men, which isn’t true.

Gender equality is about equity—ensuring that what benefits one person also benefits the other. It also emphasises empowerment. Unfortunately, many women are still not empowered, and when this happens, they lack the resources to provide for themselves and their families.

Cultural and traditional norms also present significant challenges. Patriarchy remains deeply rooted in our society, and dismantling it to ensure women are seen as capable individuals contributing meaningfully to society requires extensive effort.

Gender-based violence, including rape, domestic violence, and even violence against men, is a growing concern. These issues demand more attention and resources.

Legal reform is another crucial area. For instance, I recently attended the National Summit in Abuja, where I advocated for the passage of the Gender Equality Bill and the bill providing special seats for women. While the law is meant to be gender-neutral, patriarchal biases often influence how it is applied.

We need reforms that support women in reaching their full potential. Nigeria, for example, ranks 41st out of 41 African nations in terms of women in parliament. This is unacceptable. We need more women in leadership roles, and I am hopeful that with the right legal framework, we can make progress.

Reproductive health and rights also remain a significant issue. Many women are denied autonomy over their own bodies, unable to make decisions about family planning and the number of children they want. When women lack control over their reproductive health, it jeopardises their future and well-being. While family planning is becoming more accepted, cultural barriers—especially from men—still exist.

Economic empowerment presents another challenge. Women often lack the resources to compete in elections or other high-stakes areas. Although some political parties offer waivers, the overall process remains costly.

Women need deliberate empowerment that extends beyond handouts of rice or money. We must invest in women’s businesses, ensuring they have the resources to sustain and grow them. Empowered women can contribute to the economy and mentor the next generation.

Technology also poses a challenge. Many financial inclusion programmes are designed for the educated, yet millions of women are excluded due to illiteracy. We need to address the barriers preventing women from accessing financial services and technology. While progress has been made, much work remains. Advocacy for legal reforms, cultural shifts, and empowering programmes across all sectors of society must continue.

It appears that women often don’t support each other, especially in the political arena. What are your thoughts on this?”

I don’t agree with that notion. In 2016, I ran for the governorship seat under the Democratic People’s Party. Although I lost to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, I received substantial support from women and men as well. After the 2016 election, I joined the APC in 2018, and I am still a loyal party member. When I contested, women were happy to see one of their own stepping up to lead the state. They rallied behind me, making efforts to increase my visibility. I am a direct beneficiary of women supporting women, so I don’t subscribe to the narrative that women don’t support each other.

But we have seen cases where more women support men to secure elective positions. How do you explain this?

The situation is sometimes complex. For example, if a woman’s husband is contesting, it’s difficult for her to support another woman against her family. Naturally, she would want to rally her sisters and friends to support her husband, viewing it as a family project. This highlights how socialisation plays a role. Beyond elections, we are interconnected—siblings, friends, church members—so personal relationships influence voting choices.

Additionally, some women have internalised patriarchal norms. This lack of awareness often leads to actions that undermine other women. For instance, in communities where female genital mutilation is still practised, it is often women who perform this harmful act on girls. This comes from a lack of understanding of the long-term damage caused by these practices. Therefore, more advocacies are needed to challenge and change these deep-seated cultural and social norms.

How is the state handling the issue of gender-based violence?

One of the key challenges we have faced is gender-based violence. Fortunately, Ondo State has established the Ondo State Agency Against Gender-Based Violence, which is empowered by the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, passed in 2021. VAPP provides a legal framework to protect and support victims of GBV.

The agency is well-equipped with a diverse staff and several departments, including legal, empowerment, and counselling units.

Whenever a case of GBV arises, it is quickly referred to the agency, which promptly handles the matter.

Victims receive immediate medical care in cases such as rape or physical abuse. Additionally, they have access to legal support provided by in-house lawyers who ensure their protection and represent them in court when necessary.

How does your office, in particular, address gender-based issues?

Our office tackles a wide range of gender-related issues, including empowerment, financial inclusion, gender-based development, and child welfare. In the education sector, we work to address inequalities, focusing on ensuring that gender gaps are bridged and that both men and women are equally empowered.

Our programmes are designed to consider the specific needs of both genders, and we have collaborated with various ministries and agencies to achieve this.

For instance, we partnered with the transport sector to support women, helping them secure better positions in the industry. Historically, men have benefited more from interventions and programmes, so it’s refreshing to see women gaining access to similar opportunities.

How many cases do you specifically tackle on a daily or monthly basis?

We handle numerous cases. For example, we recently addressed issues raised by women in the transport sector who were facing bullying from council heads. By working with the relevant authorities, we were able to resolve the situation.

From 2022 to date, a total of 462 cases have been reported to the agency, with 340 cases resolved through alternative dispute resolution. 31 cases related to upkeep, custody, and education, were filed in Family and Magistrate Courts on behalf of indigent individuals.

We also supported 24 criminal cases, including rape, defilement, and sexual assault, by providing financial assistance for medical expenses, police investigations, witness expenses, and even media coverage.

In addition, 10 civil cases involving divorce and protection orders were filed in various courts.

Beyond addressing legal cases, we have also empowered women through initiatives like training in home gardening to combat rising food costs.

This programme has provided women with a source of income and self-sufficiency. Moreover, we have established gender desk officers in local governments across the state to promote gender equity and tackle harmful norms.

Do you think there is a need to include gender issues in the academic curriculum so they can be taught in primary and secondary schools to give children proper orientation?

While the current school curriculum includes subjects like civic education, we can’t fit everything into it. Formal education needs to be supplemented by informal learning. Life is a continuous learning process, and not everything can be taught within the walls of a classroom.

That said, our office actively promotes gender re-orientation for young children. For example, we organise the annual Tech and Live Camp—an initiative aimed at equipping adolescent boys with skills in technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Through this programme, we teach boys to understand and appreciate girls as equals with the capacity to succeed. By nurturing gender advocates from a young age, we are building a generation that will continue the fight for gender equity.

Earlier, you talked about cultural practices and norms that hinder women’s development in some societies. How do you think this can be changed?

Changing cultural norms requires continuous advocacy, and I am pleased to note that some progress is already being made. For instance, in Ondo State, the governor has made significant strides in empowering women. He has championed reforms in political participation, healthcare, and education, ensuring that women are better represented and supported.

Looking ahead, I am confident that if re-elected, he will continue to do even more for women. He will ensure that women are given more opportunities to serve in various sectors of governance, and I’m optimistic that more women will be supported to run for office at both the state and national levels.

You are known for always being at the forefront of the gender equality crusade. What drives your passion, are you a lawyer?

I am not a lawyer. My background is in biology. I have a first degree in Biology and Food Storage Technology, and a second degree in Food Storage Technology from the Federal University of Technology, Akure. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Plant Science and Technology at another university. So, based on academic qualifications, with two degrees and a PhD in view, I can be called a scientist.

However, based on life experiences, I would say I am a gender advocate. It all began during my university years. I remember contesting for the position of President of the Student Union Government at FUTA, which became a huge issue. The boys could not stand the idea of a woman running for the presidency, and the gender debate became so intense that it led to a riot.

The election was eventually cancelled. Back then, we had more male than female students at the university, which made it even more challenging to overcome the loud voices of the male students.

At that moment, I realised that the problem wasn’t with the females who were minding their own business, but with the males, who lacked the understanding that everyone has inherent abilities, dreams, and the capacity to lead.

The problem was with the boys, who had been raised to believe that they had to be the leaders; that boys were the ones who worked in prestigious companies while the women became teachers.

These boys were raised to think that when they got home from work, they could sit and read the newspaper, while the women toiled in the kitchen from morning until midnight.

They believed that, no matter where they found themselves, they were superior.

I, on the other hand, was brought up to be independent and to believe that I could achieve whatever I set my mind to. So, there were two opposing backgrounds, which created tension.

After the SUG contest, I made up my mind to contribute to gender equality and help change the narrative.

This led to the establishment of the Girls and Women Research and Development Centre, where we focused on gender issues.

Over time, I transitioned from the gender sector to community development, and eventually into governance. My journey in gender advocacy was sparked by my university experience, and I have since built on that to ensure that other women don’t have to go through what I did.