Rufus Oba: Celebrating Extraordinary Nigerian Women

Nigeria @61

As Nigeria celebrates its 61st Independence today, Rufus Oba, an environmentalist, motivational speaker, pastor and author, says Nigerian women deserve a whole lot of accolades and also more opportunities to lead, as they have held the nation together and propelled development in every sphere of life against all odds. To this end, Oba is celebrating extraordinary Nigerian women in a book titled, “Choose To Lead… Outstanding Women in Nigeria”. He tells MARY NNAH in this interview that the book is about 52 outstanding women who have impacted lives not only in their immediate environment but nationally improving on the society with their positions

Nigeria is marking its 61st independence anniversary today. How will you describe the stage at which Nigeria is today, politically and economically?

The state of Nigeria’s economy is not encouraging; it’s not a thing to celebrate about. In just three months, the electricity tariff has tripled and I pay three times more than I did at the beginning of this year; same with foodstuffs in the markets. Low income per capita is in its lowest ebb – hyper two digit inflation – we now use 80 per cent of the budget to service loans. This government from 2015 till date has owed more than all the governments put together since independence.

Nigeria is more corrupt now than ever according to Transparency International. Politically, the atmosphere is toxic; the country is more divided across regional and religious lines, with more agitations and protests, demonstrations and violence from different sections to break away. There is an absence of ideology to drive the political space which is why politicians cross carpet almost on a daily basis and their sins forgiven (corrupt practices) True federalism is on the top burner. Constitutional amendment and review of the electoral act seem to be a mirage.

How is your book, “Choose To Lead… Outstanding Women In Nigeria”, going to help solve the present situation?

The world was not complete until the woman came. Imagine a world without women; men would probably still be living in caves with unkempt beards and hairs, eating raw meats. Women play a very important part in the wellbeing and existence of all men dead or alive today.

Nations were made through women and nations have been brought down by women, which is why it is often said that if you train one woman you trained a whole nation. Heroines are found everywhere, even in our neighbourhoods, women who have distinguished themselves in all fields of human endeavours, be it in medicine, business, politics, athletics, etc. some of them coming up firsts in their field of endeavour against all odds and in a male dominated world. This book therefore is to encourage women to do more and in the long run take Nigerian to her well-deserved destination.

“Choose To Lead… Outstanding Women In Nigeria”, is about 52 outstanding women who have impacted lives not only in their immediate families but nationally and has improved, developed our society by their positions, offices, influences and in so many other ways by giving back to the society, by way of scholarships, offsetting medical bills, providing jobs, or even adopting and taking care of foster children etc.

Their stories are inspiring, motivational, educational and worthy to be emulated as role models for youths, others to copy, especially as the nation celebrates another Independence Day. This book is a must read if you want to improve your life and make a mark on the earth; if you have to read just one book this year, you should own and read this classic life transforming book.

What roles, in your view, have women played to bring the nation to the stage she is at today and what more can they do to put the country on a better pedestal?

Women are the bedrock of every home and society. In the beginning God created them both male and female, running the country Nigeria without women is like using only one of your kidneys. God did not make a mistake when he formed the woman as an Help Meet, using one kidney alone to do the job of two kidneys would put the other one under undue pressure and weight which will in turn wear it down faster and weaken its capability which is the case with Nigeria where women are subjected to the kitchen and other menial jobs, not to be seen or heard in the open. Women have not been properly accepted or given the rightful opportunities as their male counterparts. Suffice it to say that in all or nearly all of the offices and positions or establishments run by women they had excelled and come out tops. So why not give them adequate opportunities to excel more.

For instance, out of the 52 women who have been selected for this book, three of them are Chairman of the leading banks in this country and they are being run effectively and efficiently, there are others who are leading politicians amongst the list who are pushing for better representation of their various constituencies, formulating laws and policies that will improving our society. Because women are emotional, more caring and loving they are setting up more nongovernmental agencies to cater for the wellbeing of the less privileged and most vulnerable in the country. Take a good look at our society, do a research and you will be amazed that over 90 per cent of women occupy or as directors had set up these NGOs giving assistance, rendering help, giving hope to the downtrodden in our society.

There are women on the list who had given employment, supported small and medium scale industries thereby creating a living for millions of families. If you take away the contributions of these 52 women, you invariably would render millions of Nigerians displaced, disorganised and disoriented. Our list of women have largely influenced, impacted and improved lives and developing our country. These women have children, some adopted, foster children etc they are training, sound and productive people to follow in their stead. The problem with Nigeria is that the men are overworking themselves thinking they could do without the women as their Help Meet. No, we cannot make good progress without women.

What informed your decision to write a book that focuses basically on women?

Growing up in a Christian home and raised by a single mother and two female cousins I understood the pains and gains of having women as mothers, sisters, friends, wives.

God himself knew there was no way Genesis 1 verse 28 could have been actualised, to fulfil, multiply and replenish the world, so he formed the woman to be the ‘Help Meet’ and the child bearer. Women are caregivers; they are loving and peaceful by nature.

About half the population of Nigeria is female but women occupy only about two per cent of managerial positions. There have been only few women deputy governors, no woman sits as Senate president or vice president and I asked myself if it’s okay to trust a woman to cook, clean and sort advice from? Is there a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind men?

Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians and teachers but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, chairwoman of NNPC, governors? Why are women being discriminated against?

In the political world, even when they attend the same schools, churches, markets etc with men, taught with the same curriculum and tested with the same examination and same professional degree with women coming tops, firsts in various fields of studies, they are still discriminated against. It is for this reason that I wrote the book “Choose to Lead… to highlight the progress, achievements, and contributions of women in our society.

I would like to know, is there a different law in our constitution for women alone, if not why is there an unspoken assumption that women are different? Are our existing laws not adequate to secure equal rights for women even as God created them both male and female equal? Sufficient proof of this is the concentration of women in lower paying menial, unrewarding jobs, and their incredible scarcity in the upper level jobs.

It is obvious that discrimination exists. Women do not have the opportunities that men have and women that do not confirm to the system who try to break out of the accepted patterns are stigmatised as odd and unfeminine, but the fact is that a woman who aspires to be chairman of a board or member of the house, governor does so for exactly the same reasons as any man basically because she thinks she can do the job and she wants to try.

What do you hope to achieve with this crusade?

I am determined that we should get to the bottom of this matter and that the truth should be fully brought out no matter who was involved. Yes, I’m a man but the truth is we are created by the same God. We have the same amount and colour of blood in our bodies. If you prick a woman with a pin or sharp object will she bleed and what will be the colour? Is it any different from that of the man? Why then should men think they are superior?

Enough of the discrimination and marginalisation let Justice be pursued fairly, fully and impartially. Let women aspire to any position, office of their choice without intimidation, blackmail, or unfair criticism or violence but on an equal levelling field. I want to be able to tell men as well as the women that there is no job that is too small or reserved for any specific gender, there is no person who is too small, everybody, male or female, has something to do and if he or she does it well, then the country will run well.

There is an ancient saying that women are the home and the home is the basis of society. It is as we build our homes that we can build our country, if the home is inadequate – either inadequate in material goods and necessities or inadequate in the sort of friendly, loving atmosphere that every child needs to grow and develop, then that country cannot have harmony and no country which does not have harmony can grow in any direction at all; this why women’s education is almost more important than the education of boys and men. Train a woman and you have trained not just a person but a nation.

Can you mention the women you have chosen to celebrate so much?

The 52 extraordinary women were are celebrating in the book are: Foloronsho Alakija, Aisha Buhari, Patience Jonathan, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dora Akunyili, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Daisy Danjuma, Fifi Ejindu, Gambo Sawaaba, Laila Dogonyaro, Ibikun Awosika, Mosun Belo Olusoga, Osaretin Demuren, Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Bimbo Alase, Mo Abudu, Stella Oduah, Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti, Titi Abubakar, Seinye Lulu Briggs, Chioma Ajunwa, Yolanda George, Ayo Obe, Grace Brent, Kuforiji Olubi, Abike Dabiri Erewa, Florence Ita Giwa, Ndi Okereke Oyuike, Oby Ezekwesili, Florence Nwapa, Agbani Darego, Ladi Dosei Kwali, Margaret Ekpo, Elizabeth Awoliyi, Hilda Adefarasin, Folake Solanke, Aloma Mukta, Linda Ikeji, Adetoun Ogunseye, Hilda Dokubo, Uche Pedro, Isioma Elumelu, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Peace Ibiyeomie, Helen Paul, Julie Okah Donli, Judith Amaechi, Folashade Thomas Fahm, Azumi Namadi Bebeji, Bitebo Gogo, Azuka Azinge and Aderonke Kale.

What were the criteria for the choice of these women?

Heroines are found everywhere even in our villages and neighbourhoods, but I have selected some inspiring stories of investors, athletes, politicians and etc who have put everything into solving important problems nationally or achieving an unseemly impossible goal; women who have by their commitments, dedication, determination are great inspiration; women who took heroic stand to change history, ordinary people who grew with hard work, dreams and visions impacting lives beyond their immediate families, women who have touched lives by way of giving back to the society, through scholarships, building or equipping schools, hospitals, homes for the elderly and disadvantaged people; women who have influenced society by their positions and offices.