Born in 1974 in Lagos, Nigeria, Hafsat Abiola is a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover (1992) and Harvard College (1996). She is also a recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from Haverford College. Hafsat’s surname Abiola, should ring a bell of a prominent political family and of course, your guess is as good as whoever’s; the famous M.K.O. Abiola. She was born into the home of a leader and therefore, had few options than to carry the traits of leadership alongside her growth; howbeit, embracing the call to leadership in a time of crisis.
Summarily put, Hafsat is a Nigerian human right, civil rights and democracy activist. She is also, the founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), which seeks to strengthen civil society and promote democracy in Nigeria. In addition to that, Abiola is the founder of China-Africa Bridge and China Africa Forum, which promotes mutually beneficial cross-cultural collaboration between China and Africa, with a specific eye on women’s contributions to the economy.
But the drive for Hafsat Abiola has been singularly this: the belief that the world needs more than a few exemplary women leaders, it needs a groundswell. And as a result of that belief, Hafsat has been stirring up activism in fellow Nigerians, fueling movements for democracy, gender equality and women’s leadership in her country and throughout Africa. This she has done since she was 19; 19 because it was at that age she lost her Mother. She lost her Mother to a worthy cause; to the fight for the desired lot of many Nigerians; the better life and positive change many Nigerians still clamour for.
Hafsat Abiola: Eye-Catching and Attention Demanding Efforts
One of the ways Hafsat has proven and provided leadership is by her consistent engagement in the frontlines of change in her country. She has often been one of the first leaders to respond to the crisis. Long before Boko Haram and the Bring Back Our Girls initiative made international headlines, Hafsat made dangerous trips to targeted areas, meeting with survivors of terrorist attacks and organizing coalitions of women to demand action against the extremist group and its ruthless campaign of gender-based violence.
On June 5, 2018, she was appointed as the Executive President of Women in Africa (WIA) Initiative. The global platform is dedicated to the economic development and support of leading and high potential African women. In 2008, the Europe-based organization, A Different View, chose Abiola to be one of the 15 Champions of World Democracy. Other champions include Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Corazon Aquino, and Sima Samar. Hafsat is also an advisory council member at the Fetzer Institute as well as the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Since May 2008 she has been a Councillor at the World Future Council among 49 other well-known personalities. In 2003, she was elected as a Fellow of the Ashoka: Innovators for the Public in recognition of her international status as a social entrepreneur.
Hafsat Abiola received the Youth Peace and Justice Award from the Cambridge Peace Commission in 1997, the State of the World Forum’s Change Maker Award in 1998, Woman to Watch for Award, 1999 and the World Economic Forum’s Global Leader of Tomorrow Award 2000. She is also the recipient of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Global Award, 2001 and the Global Leadership Award Honoree in 2016. In 2006 she raised funds by organizing performances of The Vagina Monologues in Nigeria. She is also one of the inspirations behind the SEVEN play.
While serving as a cabinet member and special adviser of the Ogun State government, she worked hard to ensure that communities are kept safe and equal rights for women are advanced. Hafsat says that women are too often seen as the victims of the crisis, “but in the midst of problems, women see solutions.” She is motivated by women’s strength and believes that the challenges facing her country offer an opportunity for women’s leadership to emerge.
In her words, “Guard your light and protect it. Move it forward into the world and be fully confident that if we connect light to light to light, and join the lights together…we will be enough to set our whole planet aglow.” Our everyday Hero; Hafsat Abiola; Encouraging, Motivating and Inspiring a generation of young men and women to hope, change and progress.
Sources
vitalvoices.org
wikipedia.org
Featured Image Source: womenintheworld