Former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko says that Nigeria’s commitment to women’s rights will remain superficial until governments at all levels fully domesticate and implement international conventions on gender equality.
Dr Mimiko made the remark in Akure while delivering the keynote address at the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Ondo Week 2025, themed “Turning Policy to Action: Advancing Women’s Rights Through Law and Governance”, with the tagline, “Promoting, Protecting and Preserving the Rights, Interests and Welfare of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.”
Dr Mimiko noted that global research and lived experiences show that women have historically “held the short end of the stick” due to entrenched structural inequalities reinforced by culture, tradition, religion and economic realities.
Citing global reports, the former Governor expressed worry that the digital space has become a “battlefield of harassment, abuse and torture,” stressing that unless governments, tech companies, civil society and community institutions deliberately enforce policy commitments, “the best laws will remain mere paperwork.”
He described women’s rights as fundamental human rights rooted in international charters such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
However, Dr Mimiko lamented that although Nigeria has ratified many of these conventions, “ratification alone does not make them enforceable under Nigerian law. Treaties must be domesticated by the National Assembly or adapted by state governments.”
This, he said, explains why major protective laws such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Child Rights Convention remain only partially implemented.
Dr Mimiko also described gender-based violence as rooted in physical and economic power imbalances.
Reflecting on global advocacy, he traced the evolution of the women’s rights movement through landmark UN conferences—Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985) and Beijing (1995).
He described the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as the “catechism of global women’s rights advocacy,” which solidified global commitment to eliminating violence against women and integrating gender perspectives into governance.
He commended Nigerian women for their resilience and urged policymakers to expand women’s political inclusion, strengthen the VAPP law, and ensure prompt justice for victims of gender-based violence.
Mimiko also called for urgent action to reduce maternal mortality, describing it as “one of the most heartbreaking indicators of gender inequality.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of FIDA Ondo State, Mrs. Bolanle Olafunmiloye, said this year’s theme underscores the urgent need for deliberate action to confront rising cases of domestic abuse, rape, incest and harmful cultural practices.
She lamented that reported cases of gender-based violence received by FIDA and allied organisations continue to escalate, describing the trend as “alarming and unacceptable.”
Olafunmiloye commended the wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, the Attorney-General Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for their consistent support.
The Country Vice President of FIDA Nigeria, Mrs. Eliana Martins, represented by Mrs. Olubunmi Niyi-Arajuwa, noted that translating policy into action requires the commitment of every sector—lawmakers, lawyers, communities and institutions.
She clarified that while FIDA focuses on women and girls, “the rights of men and boys will also be protected to ensure a balanced and just society.”
Chairman of the 2025 Planning Committee, Fidan Kudirat Gbadamosi, said the week’s activities including visits to correctional centres, courts, orphanages, medical outreach and an Awards/Dinner Night were designed to amplify advocacy and strengthen community engagement.
She described gender-based violence, rape and incest as threats destabilising families, urging women to lead the charge in challenging harmful norms.
Panelists including former Senator Nicholas Tofowomo; public health expert, Dr. Lawal Oyeneyin; Executive Secretary, OSAA-GBV, Mrs. Bolanle Afolabi; and gender advocate, Chief Mrs. Olamide Falana, highlighted the need for stronger legal protection, effective prosecution of offenders, psychosocial support for survivors, and increased women’s political participation.
They also called for community-level sensitisation to dismantle cultural barriers, improved funding for GBV agencies and shelters, digital safety education for young girls, timely delivery of justice and strengthened investigative processes.
The panelists stressed that society must shift from rhetoric to action to ensure that women, children and persons with disabilities enjoy full protection under the law.
Stakeholders at the event said the 2025 FIDA Ondo Week opened with renewed calls for political will, legal reforms and multi-sectoral collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers to women’s rights.
They reiterated that translating policy into action is not optional but remains the only pathway to building a just, safe and equitable society.
The event attracted distinguished personalities from the bar and bench, civil society groups, and traditional institutions, including the Paramount Ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade.
The week-long programme, which began on December 4, will end on December 9, 2025.
