Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi is the
Chairperson of Transition Monitoring Group and Founder of Women
Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, a non-profit organisation.
In this interview with ERIC DUMO, she talks about her journey into
activism and life as a wife and mother.
Chairperson of Transition Monitoring Group and Founder of Women
Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, a non-profit organisation.
In this interview with ERIC DUMO, she talks about her journey into
activism and life as a wife and mother.
Looking at your history of activism, you must have had a very tough childhood, was that the case?
Well, childhood was quite exciting for
me even though I had to learn a lot of things fast. I was born in
Ilorin, Kwara State, but grew up in Osogbo, Osun State, after my father,
who was an engineer with the defunct National Electric Power Authority,
was posted there on one occasion.
me even though I had to learn a lot of things fast. I was born in
Ilorin, Kwara State, but grew up in Osogbo, Osun State, after my father,
who was an engineer with the defunct National Electric Power Authority,
was posted there on one occasion.
I was a very active child who was
interested in a lot of things. I was into sports and a lot of
extracurricular activities right from my primary and secondary school
days. I was involved in school debates and I won awards in the process.
As a person, I just wanted to make my mark anywhere I found myself.
interested in a lot of things. I was into sports and a lot of
extracurricular activities right from my primary and secondary school
days. I was involved in school debates and I won awards in the process.
As a person, I just wanted to make my mark anywhere I found myself.
I had very supportive parents. It was
through my father that I was able to build leadership capacity and
develop the love for activism because he was a students’ union leader
during his days at the Ibadan Polytechnic. By the time I was 15, I was
already appearing on television for inter-school debate. So, I had the
exposure of somebody moving towards human activism right from that time.
through my father that I was able to build leadership capacity and
develop the love for activism because he was a students’ union leader
during his days at the Ibadan Polytechnic. By the time I was 15, I was
already appearing on television for inter-school debate. So, I had the
exposure of somebody moving towards human activism right from that time.
By the time I got admission to the
Obafemi Awolowo University, it was easy for me to decide on what I
wanted to do. Initially, I was in the Faculty of Education but I
switched to Law even though I had to spend an extra year to do that.
Obafemi Awolowo University, it was easy for me to decide on what I
wanted to do. Initially, I was in the Faculty of Education but I
switched to Law even though I had to spend an extra year to do that.
When I was admitted to OAU, I had a lot
of expectations due to the things I had read about the school. But
during a particular internal election, I witnessed people snatching
ballot boxes; I was very shocked because I thought it was different from
other schools in this regard. I decided to write an article and I
posted it all around the school. That gave me a lot of publicity on
campus. Student political leaders started looking for me and eventually
visited my room one day. They engaged me in discussion and talked about
Marxism a lot. But I had Nelson Mandela as my role model. I had his
poster with me anywhere I went.
of expectations due to the things I had read about the school. But
during a particular internal election, I witnessed people snatching
ballot boxes; I was very shocked because I thought it was different from
other schools in this regard. I decided to write an article and I
posted it all around the school. That gave me a lot of publicity on
campus. Student political leaders started looking for me and eventually
visited my room one day. They engaged me in discussion and talked about
Marxism a lot. But I had Nelson Mandela as my role model. I had his
poster with me anywhere I went.
However, after that meeting, I became a
member of the Marxist group on campus. Within a couple of years, I
became the secretary of the socialist group in the university, leading a
lot of discussions and taking plenty risks. Along the line, I had
experiences of arrest, detention. I had a lot of issues with the school
authorities as a result of my activism. I had several queries
threatening to send me out of school if I did not appear before certain
panels. The military junta’s presence was very prominent on campus then
and every active students’ union leader was a target. I later became the
first female public relations officer of the students’ union, which
further exposed me to the public.
member of the Marxist group on campus. Within a couple of years, I
became the secretary of the socialist group in the university, leading a
lot of discussions and taking plenty risks. Along the line, I had
experiences of arrest, detention. I had a lot of issues with the school
authorities as a result of my activism. I had several queries
threatening to send me out of school if I did not appear before certain
panels. The military junta’s presence was very prominent on campus then
and every active students’ union leader was a target. I later became the
first female public relations officer of the students’ union, which
further exposed me to the public.
During the military regime of Ibrahim
Babangida, I was one of the students who led the protest to remove him. I
was assigned to post posters in Benin before the dawn of a particular
day. I had to travel in a trailer to get there. By the time I got there
with two of my colleagues and were posting them, we got arrested by the
police.
Babangida, I was one of the students who led the protest to remove him. I
was assigned to post posters in Benin before the dawn of a particular
day. I had to travel in a trailer to get there. By the time I got there
with two of my colleagues and were posting them, we got arrested by the
police.
At a point after that period, I could no
longer stay at home because the then State Security Service was looking
for me. I had to relocate from OAU to the University of Lagos where I
was sheltered by the students’ union there for four months because I
could not stay in town. That was around 1991.
longer stay at home because the then State Security Service was looking
for me. I had to relocate from OAU to the University of Lagos where I
was sheltered by the students’ union there for four months because I
could not stay in town. That was around 1991.
How did this affect your academics?
I was lucky that during that period, the
school was closed. It was a very turbulent but interesting period for
me. At a point, my parents disowned me because they thought I was
walking in the line of danger and taking risks too often. They felt as a
young lady, I shouldn’t be involved in activism, so I had a lot of
issues with them. The last straw was when DSS operatives invaded our
house at a time and picked up my father. By the time he came back, he
said he had had enough and was letting go of me.
But before he eventually died, he told
me that he realised activism was my life, so I could carry on but that I
should be more careful. I am happy he appreciated my sacrifice and
commitment to societal development before passing on.
me that he realised activism was my life, so I could carry on but that I
should be more careful. I am happy he appreciated my sacrifice and
commitment to societal development before passing on.
What was the position of your mother on your involvement in activism?
My mother aligned with my father as far
as the issue was concerned. My parents lost a child once, so that made
them become frantic over losing another one. They felt I was endangering
my life too much by involving in activism. At a point, my mother said
she would start mourning me before the worst happened because I was
taking too many risks. After I refused to back down, they stopped
supporting me in terms of welfare.
as the issue was concerned. My parents lost a child once, so that made
them become frantic over losing another one. They felt I was endangering
my life too much by involving in activism. At a point, my mother said
she would start mourning me before the worst happened because I was
taking too many risks. After I refused to back down, they stopped
supporting me in terms of welfare.
By the time I got to the Nigerian Law
School, life became tougher. I only survived through the support of
friends and fellow comrades.
School, life became tougher. I only survived through the support of
friends and fellow comrades.
Did colleagues give you any nickname as a result of your activism while in the university?
Some compared me with Margaret Thatcher of Britain. Others called me Byooler because they felt I was always blowing hot.
How did the young men on campus relate to you being an activist and good-looking lady?
As tough as I seemed to a lot of people,
I was actually a calm person. A lot of times DSS operatives came on
campus looking for me, but unknown to them, I was the one standing in
front of them. This was so because they probably had a particular
picture of what an activist should look like and I didn’t fit into that.
I was just a normal lady in dressing and way of life.
I was actually a calm person. A lot of times DSS operatives came on
campus looking for me, but unknown to them, I was the one standing in
front of them. This was so because they probably had a particular
picture of what an activist should look like and I didn’t fit into that.
I was just a normal lady in dressing and way of life.
I enjoyed a good relationship with male
friends on campus even though I was not very interested in having an
affair with them at that period of my life. As a matter of fact, a lot
of people expected me to act like tomboy, smoke and drink just because I
was a students’ union leader. I refused to do all of that because I
didn’t believe they were going to add any value to me.
friends on campus even though I was not very interested in having an
affair with them at that period of my life. As a matter of fact, a lot
of people expected me to act like tomboy, smoke and drink just because I
was a students’ union leader. I refused to do all of that because I
didn’t believe they were going to add any value to me.
Are you saying people actually pressured you into doing all of those things?
Yes, of course. A lot of such people
felt that not drinking, smoking and acting like a tomboy would not show
that I was strong as a students’ union leader. The pressure was intense
but I did not bow. I prefer to take a risk for a struggle I believe in,
not for social activities that add no value to me.
felt that not drinking, smoking and acting like a tomboy would not show
that I was strong as a students’ union leader. The pressure was intense
but I did not bow. I prefer to take a risk for a struggle I believe in,
not for social activities that add no value to me.
At what point did you finally allow a man into your life?
I think I was in my fourth year in the
university at the time I had a relationship. I was so enmeshed in
activism that, in fact, at a time I felt I would never have a
relationship.
university at the time I had a relationship. I was so enmeshed in
activism that, in fact, at a time I felt I would never have a
relationship.
So, how did you meet your husband?
The two of us were very good friends for
about 10 years before we decided to get married. We met in Ogun State
while he was undergoing his National Youth Service. My husband is
somebody who believes in what I believe in even though he is a quiet
man. He has given me all the encouragement I need to succeed on this
path. We have three children together and are very happy. He is somebody
who knows everything about me.
about 10 years before we decided to get married. We met in Ogun State
while he was undergoing his National Youth Service. My husband is
somebody who believes in what I believe in even though he is a quiet
man. He has given me all the encouragement I need to succeed on this
path. We have three children together and are very happy. He is somebody
who knows everything about me.
Two days after your wedding,
you travelled for studies in the United States and returned after two
years, how were you able to convince your husband to consent to this and
how did you both cope?
you travelled for studies in the United States and returned after two
years, how were you able to convince your husband to consent to this and
how did you both cope?
Honestly, it was very difficult for the
two of us. Before we agreed to marry, I got a scholarship to study
International Human Rights Law at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana,
US. I got the scholarship in March of that year and had to go in
August. There were two options. It was either I went and we get married
later or we married and I go. My husband preferred the second option.
two of us. Before we agreed to marry, I got a scholarship to study
International Human Rights Law at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana,
US. I got the scholarship in March of that year and had to go in
August. There were two options. It was either I went and we get married
later or we married and I go. My husband preferred the second option.
However, we had some challenges before
the marriage and it was about religion. My parents were staunch
Christians while my husband was from a Muslim home. We had serious
opposition from our parents. Even though my father was more liberal, it
took us a long time to convince my mother to accept. But my husband had
already agreed to get married even if our parents did not accept.
the marriage and it was about religion. My parents were staunch
Christians while my husband was from a Muslim home. We had serious
opposition from our parents. Even though my father was more liberal, it
took us a long time to convince my mother to accept. But my husband had
already agreed to get married even if our parents did not accept.
In my husband’s family, they already had
inter-religious marriage, so it was not so difficult for them to assent
to our union. My mother wasn’t too happy, she cried all through our
wedding in court. It got so serious that she planned a church wedding
and as we were driving back from court, she told the driver to detour
and head straight there. This was without our knowledge. Immediately we
got there, we realised that a pastor and a few others were waiting. My
husband and his people had to agree to it at the end of the day. The
ceremony was less than one hour. Many people who went with us to the
registry were already waiting for us at the reception while we had
diverted to the church as a result of my mother’s plan. It was quite an
interesting experience.
inter-religious marriage, so it was not so difficult for them to assent
to our union. My mother wasn’t too happy, she cried all through our
wedding in court. It got so serious that she planned a church wedding
and as we were driving back from court, she told the driver to detour
and head straight there. This was without our knowledge. Immediately we
got there, we realised that a pastor and a few others were waiting. My
husband and his people had to agree to it at the end of the day. The
ceremony was less than one hour. Many people who went with us to the
registry were already waiting for us at the reception while we had
diverted to the church as a result of my mother’s plan. It was quite an
interesting experience.
Spending two years apart just days after
our wedding was quite tough for my husband and I but we remained
faithful to each other and pulled through that period.
our wedding was quite tough for my husband and I but we remained
faithful to each other and pulled through that period.
For the two years you were
in the US, were there times you feared that you would have lost your
husband to another woman on your return?
in the US, were there times you feared that you would have lost your
husband to another woman on your return?
There was no such time because the two
of us maintained strong communication. Even though people tried to pile
pressure on my husband, we remained strong and are happier for the
sacrifices we made.
of us maintained strong communication. Even though people tried to pile
pressure on my husband, we remained strong and are happier for the
sacrifices we made.
Interestingly, when I left for the US, I
never knew I was pregnant. By the time I boarded the plane, I started
vomiting. It was when we arrived the US that a test confirmed that I was
actually pregnant because I thought I was suffering from jetlag. I had a
baby within a year of arriving there for studies. Amazing!
never knew I was pregnant. By the time I boarded the plane, I started
vomiting. It was when we arrived the US that a test confirmed that I was
actually pregnant because I thought I was suffering from jetlag. I had a
baby within a year of arriving there for studies. Amazing!
Returning home to your husband after two years with a baby must have been a great reunion, what was that moment like?
It was an amazing moment. The fact that
we maintained strong communication made it even sweeter. But of course,
it took us time to adjust to the new life because up until that point we
had not really lived together as a couple.
we maintained strong communication made it even sweeter. But of course,
it took us time to adjust to the new life because up until that point we
had not really lived together as a couple.
On your return back home, were there things you did to make up for the time you had been away?
Not really, everything went on
normally. The truth is that the strong communication we maintained made
it seem as if we had always been together during that period. So, I went
about my normal business on my return home.
normally. The truth is that the strong communication we maintained made
it seem as if we had always been together during that period. So, I went
about my normal business on my return home.
You established WARDC shortly after your return to Nigeria, how has it been advocating for women’s rights?
WARDC was founded in the year 2000 but
was registered in 2002. We are focused on addressing issues relating to
gender-based violence, so we go to court a lot. We deal with at least
2,000 cases that have to do with women in a year.
was registered in 2002. We are focused on addressing issues relating to
gender-based violence, so we go to court a lot. We deal with at least
2,000 cases that have to do with women in a year.
We also engage in policy advocacy to
give women more voice in society. We have a shelter in Ogun State that
caters to women, so we’ve come a long way in terms of intervention in
this area.
give women more voice in society. We have a shelter in Ogun State that
caters to women, so we’ve come a long way in terms of intervention in
this area.
Do you ever have weekends considering your busy work schedule?
Even though I work a lot at that period
of the week, I find time to rest too. I spend time with my husband and
children by travelling and visiting some interesting places. I give them
time as much as possible.
of the week, I find time to rest too. I spend time with my husband and
children by travelling and visiting some interesting places. I give them
time as much as possible.
You have been sporting dreadlocks for several years, what inspired this look?
The desire to look natural made me start
wearing dreadlocks. I got the inspiration while in the US where I saw
and met people who appreciated their natural look. I felt that there was
no point trying to be a different person from who I am. I have been
wearing dreadlocks for eight years now.
wearing dreadlocks. I got the inspiration while in the US where I saw
and met people who appreciated their natural look. I felt that there was
no point trying to be a different person from who I am. I have been
wearing dreadlocks for eight years now.