A Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, has made case for Nigerian women and girls, during the Silver Jubilee anniversary of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC, stating that they should not be made to relive trauma repeatedly when seeking justice from sexual and gender-based violence.
She made the appeal on Wednesday, at the ceremony marking WARDC@25 Silver Jubilee Anniversary themed, ‘Breaking Barriers and Building Futures With Women and Girls in Nigeria’, held at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos.
According to keynote speaker while speaking on the topic, ‘Barriers, Building Futures With Women And Girls – Re-Imagining Access to Justice, Justice Ogunwumiju said, “To build a future that works for everyone, including women and girls, we must start by re-imagining access to justice not as a privilege, not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental promise for the nation.”
The judge also acknowledged that while giant strides have been made in the area of justice, barriers to justice persist.
She lamented that despite constitutional guarantees, legislative advances and institutional reforms, women and girls in Nigeria continue to face deep-rooted barriers in accessing justice.
She observed that while some discriminatory laws have been repealed, harmful practices embedded in customs, social norms and institutional cultures persist.
Citing instances, the apex court judge wants all stakeholders not to rest on their oars.
According to her, “Justice is the most accessible, most understandable, most holistic, majority of our women and girls are in rural communities, we should know we cannot serve women if courtrooms are too far. Justice must meet with women where they are, justice cannot stand still, it must travel.
“Innovations such as mobile court will make for shorter time, those are things that can be advocated for, individual safe reporting hubs, technology case tracking and survival centres must become a norm,” she highlighted.
She opined that to end practices that force women and girls to repeatedly narrate their painful experiences while seeking redress, the judge held that such processes amount to secondary victimisation rather than justice.
“Women must have somewhere or someplace where they can ask for help and they don’t need to explain their pain over and over and over again,” she said.
She insisted, “Girls and women’s rights are not special privileges but they are guarantees.”
While commending the WARDC activities in the past 25 years, the keynote speaker said, “In 25 years, WARDC has provided and given aid to thousands of women, trained judges, magistrates, police officers, and community leaders, successfully advocated the passage and implementation of the VAPP Act, conducted groundbreaking research shaping national policy, empowered communities and knowledge of their rights, championed gender budgeting and accountability, built networks of male allies, example our male ally is here, he-for-she, the legislators from the North, who understand that women’s rights are not threatening our households, communities, and nations. WARDC has played a crucial role in shifting the conversation from charity to rights, from sympathy to justice, and from token inclusion to institutional transformation.
“For these contributions, the nation is grateful. In spite of these long strides, there is still a lot of work to be done. As we say, it is not yet Uhuru.”
Justice Ogunwumiju stated further, “A society cannot progress when half of its population is left behind, unheard, unprotected or undervalued. Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment. We are rich in talent, culture and resilience, especially the brilliance of women and girls, yet too many still navigate systems that do not protect or serve them.”
Prof Akin Oyebode speaks at Silver Jubilee anniversary
Also, Professor Akin Oyebode former Chairman Board of Trustees, WARDC welcomed guests to the Silver jubilee anniversary.
He eulogised the Founder, WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, for her activism in human rights.
He said “I want to say we are glad that you are here to celebrate the 25 anniversary of WARDC.”
Prof. Oyebode called for inclusion of women in governance.
He said, ”We have not achieved the ultimate in terms of full recognition for the Nigerian women because we are still at the throes of passing a law that would create more seat for the women in National assembly. We are far removed from Rwanda and even Namibia because we are yet to have a female president, not to talk of a female vice president. Before we get to President, he continued, “Let us have commensurate numbers of women in our legislatures, because we all came to this world by way of women. If you don’t have women as your mother, you have them as your sisters, you have them as your spouses and you have them as your colleagues, so in a way we are celebrating ourselves by coming to share fellowship with WARDC.”
Former Ekiti State First Lady, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi anchored the unveiling of a new book authored by the Founder of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, titled Voice For Change Women’s Rights Activism in Nigeria (2000 – 2025).
Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi expressed gratitude to all who took time to celebrate WARDC@25, as she narrated about the ideation of women’s rights 25 years ago.
Prior to the celebration, WARDC also formally launched two tools on sexual and reproductive health, aimed at strengthening public awareness, counter misinformation, and foster informed citizen engagement on issues affecting women and girls.
The resources are called the SRHR News Update & SRHR Naija Hub.
While speaking at the milestone events on Tuesday, Hon. Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo, pledged commitment of the legislature in strengthening laws and policies that will expand access to quality healthcare and protect the rights of women, girls and underserved populations.
Distinguished guests who graced the occasion include Prof. Jumai Audi, Former Chairperson, Nigeria Law Reforms, representative of the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Ene Obi, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Hon Abimbola Solanke Chairman House Committee on Health and Community Service.
Others are; Iyom Josephine Anenih, a politician, Prof Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, Profeasor of Public Law, Titilola Vivour- Adeniyi, Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, Dr. Kolawole Afolabi, host hubby, Oluseun Onigbide, CEO Budgit, Abosede Adeniran Aderemi, Ijeoma Thomas-Odia, development partners representatives from National Assembly, representatives of the State House of Assembly, Commissioners, Traditional & Religious Leaders, WARDC Students Learning Hub, Paralegal communities, Ford Foundation, Women’s Consortium of Nigeria, Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria., National Council of Women’s Societies, among others who attended the event in person, virtually or represented.
