2018 USNC UN Women Luncheon Experience

One of the highlights of the month for me was the success of the NC Chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women (USNC UN) Women Luncheon at North Carolina Executive Mansion in Raleigh NC, on November 8th, 2018.

It was my first attendance of the annual event and I had led the planning with a commitment of roughly an hour weekly over four months, collaborating with a team of other remarkable volunteers, and with support from the NC Chapter President, Tsegga Medhin and Treasurer, Diane Jordan. I met Tsegga at the 2017 Duke Business in Africa Conference at Fuqua Business School, Duke University. I took interest in her contribution on a panel about Education and reached out after the conference. She invited me to be a member of the NC Chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women. 

As a girl child, I was born and lived what is the most part of my life till date in Lagos Nigeria, surrounded by a society that had conflicting notions and realities for women. Women were strong yet very weak. While women are considered nurturers, they seem to be deprived of the nurturing for their survival and success. The expectations and huge responsibilities placed on the girl child/woman are not backed with the resources, choices, and power she needs. Today, about 8million girls are estimated to be out of school in Nigeria. The argument in some areas, the belief is that a girl ends up in the ‘kitchen’ so, education of a girl child is considered a waste of resources. I grew to understand that this was the belief of the paternal side of my family too and my parents had to fight off interference contrary to their devotion to educating their girl children. Blessed to have them as parents.

"Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."— Kofi Annan

In a recent interview, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed described SDG5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) as the 'Docking Station' for the other 16goals, a view that  I strongly agree with. I was introduced to the concept of the SDGs (then MDGs) in college when I attended an event outside the school.  The goals resonated with me given my background and experience, particularly those goals focused on Education, Health, and Women Empowerment. I learned more about the Equality and Women Empowerment Goal during the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy Women Leadership and Empowerment Training at the University of Lagos in 2009 and the Women Mentoring Women Program in 2010. The final year of college which focused on Community and Public Health also had classes that had their roots in the MDGs and discussed them extensively. During the mandatory post-college service year in Nigeria (National Youth Service Corp), I joined the MDG CDS (Community Development Service) Group and took the message of the MDGs back to kids in my Secondary school (US equivalent of Middle-High School) in Lagos. The energy in the classroom was impressive and they were eager to know how they could contribute towards achieving the goals. There is so much the world can achieve when students in high schools and colleges (and younger) are made aware and become active participants in the achievement of these global goals.

Gender disparities, discrimination, and violence against women are in no way 'Nigerian' problems. They are global challenges. In my experience learning about and living in the US, the same patterns exist, but the US has come farther in some aspects. The struggle for gender equality in education/workforce development for example in STEM (another passion of mine), pay gap, workplace leadership, voting rights and participation in governance, and the disproportionate concerning statistics around harassment and domestic violence against women, to mention a few still exist.

With this background, there is no surprise why  I make out time out of my leisure and off work to volunteer and support organizations making lives better for humanity on the back of the SDGs. Thankfully, it is not all sad. Women are rising, speaking up and stepping up in every society. There has been remarkable progress due to unwavering efforts of men and women who have supported women over the years. However, we cannot afford to go complacent. Reminders, of the task still at hand, are necessary. We need to continue to create spaces, where women can come together and lean on one another, make enlightening and empowering connections, celebrate women accomplishments, recognize men and women actively working to better the lives and experiences of women in homes, at work, and elsewhere in the society. The USNC UN Women Luncheon was one of such spaces.

Be an active participant and ambassador - Volunteer, raise awareness, advocate, fund activities worldwide to help create a better world where women have equal chances at life and success.

P.S. November 25th is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Are Women (and girls) safe from or with you?

(c) Bilqees 2018