Penpushing Member Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi Honored with United Nations Recognition

Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, a distinguished member of the Penpushing platform, has been nominated for the United Nations Spotlight Initiative Global Reference Group. This honor recognizes her exceptional dedication to advancing women’s rights in Africa.

The Spotlight Initiative, a flagship program jointly led by the European Union and the United Nations Secretary-General, aims to eliminate violence against women and girls. It operates across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi, founder of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and Director of the Center for Human Rights at the University of Lagos, is a prominent gender rights advocate, law lecturer, and practitioner.

She has spearheaded numerous projects at grassroots, national, and international levels, earning the titles “The General” and “The Mobilizer” within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The Spotlight Initiative’s statement highlighted that her selection is a testament to her over two decades of dedication to fighting for the rights of women and girls in Nigeria and across Africa. Following a rigorous review of 140 applications, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi was chosen as one of 17 members of the Spotlight Initiative Global Reference Group.

In her new role, she will collaborate with global leaders to intensify the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls, advising and ensuring the Spotlight Initiative’s commitments to civil society organizations.

The Spotlight Initiative addresses various forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic violence, trafficking, sexual and economic exploitation, and other harmful practices.