Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, has reiterated the need to amplify the rights and voices of women, especially those of African descent, saying no society can achieve development when women are being sidelined.

She noted that for a long time, women have been demanding for a voice and seat at the table but there has been a shortage of supply in terms of response.
Adeleye-Fayemi stated this at the book reading and signing of her two latest books titled, Demand and Supply and A Tray of Locust Beans in Lagos.

Demand and Supply, a brilliant collection, is the third in the series of Loud Whispers while A Tray of Locust Beans is an anthology of previously published short stories and poems written by the author, which provides an opportunity to address a range of complex societal issues.

According to the author, both genders should be concerned about sexual and gender-based violence, the fate of the girl child and discriminatory practices against women; and unite to curb these vices.

Adeleye-Fayemi said the task before women rights activists is to understand the way the patriarchal system operates and engage with all stakeholders to bring an end to a life cycle of injustice and suffering for women.

For those of us who find ourselves in privileged positions, its important to use available resources to empower, educate and break cycles of oppression, she said.

She urged women to find ways to help each other instead of passing judgment or condemning another, while stressing the need to train male children so they dont become a menace to their wives and society. She also emphasised the roles of fathers in shaping the confidence, general outlook, perspective and actions of their daughters.

If a girl has a father who terrorises her and her mother, chances are that if she starts to hang out with men, she wouldnt see anything wrong with a man treating her badly because she would have internalised that as being normal, she said.

She noted that there is a need to minimise external influences on children, stressing that in this current age, parents are not the only ones raising their children as they are also being raised by social media and the internet.

You can instruct children in the best way you can, but peer influences or pressures, either directly or online, have more control over them, she noted.
On the motivation behind her writings, Adeleye-Fayemi said it largely depends on her mood. Sometimes I am happy and want to write about good things; other times I am angry by some circumstance and I also write in that state, she explained.

Speaking on SGBV at the event, veteran actress, Joke Silva, said a lot of times women are not aware that the laws have been domesticated in their states and dont understand their rights. She, therefore, emphasised the importance of awareness so that women going through issues can benefit from such policies and laws.