A Professor of Guidance and Counselling at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Prof. Mary Banke Omoniyi, has called for urgent, multi-sectoral action to dismantle entrenched gender discrimination in Nigeria, warning that failure to act will continue to stunt the nation’s development.
Delivering the institution’s 45th Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, titled “Sentenced by Anatomy: The Dilemma of the Nigerian Woman”, Omoniyi declared that discrimination against women “begins even before birth” and is perpetuated through harmful cultural norms and systemic biases.
She listed practices such as preferring male children, vilifying women, violating their rights, and discriminating based on gender, marital status, or appearance as persistent societal ills that undermine women’s potential.
“Women have always tried their best but with limited success. Their efforts are rarely recognised, even when they make sacrifices and go the extra mile. This has led to economic, political, and psychological setbacks for the womenfolk,” she lamented.
According to her, Nigerian women are “victims of their biological make-up” whose contributions are often overlooked. She insisted that being born female “was not by choice but by nature’s design,” and therefore women should be given equal opportunities and never relegated to secondary roles.
To address these inequalities, Prof. Omoniyi recommended:
Cognitive reorientation for both genders to dismantle patriarchal norms.
Gender equality education in schools.
Free compulsory education for girls up to secondary level.
A constitutional quota of at least 30% political positions for women.
Counselling centres, microfinance programmes, and a national sex offenders register.
Strict enforcement of laws against gender-based abuse, including verbal and psychological violence.
She also urged law enforcement agencies to treat cases of gender violence with seriousness, rather than dismissing them as “private family affairs.”
On economic pressures facing families, Omoniyi stressed the importance of family planning, noting that the rising cost of living means men can no longer bear the burden alone. She linked improved family welfare to reduced stress for mothers and a more balanced home life.
Citing Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), ratified in 1992, she said the nation must fully implement international commitments to women’s rights without delay.
“Nigeria, as a prominent United Nations member, should actively integrate women into the mainstream of national development if we are serious about sustainable progress,” she warned.
In his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, praised Omoniyi’s scholarly dedication, lauding her contributions to knowledge in guidance and counselling and her practical interventions addressing real-life challenges.
