Adek Bassey

What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?

One of the strongest reasons I am into gender equality programs is to prove my culture wrong for it is believed that a female child, especially the firstborn in a family, is not relevant or important or counted as the head of the family compared to a male child. This is my ignition to be engaged and involved in gender equality programs to be a model to other females and advocate for equal opportunity in education, positions, and all benefits given to a male child.

Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.

I identified an issue around female street youth in my community where they engage n unprotected sexual intercourse, get unwanted pregnancies and STIs, and give birth to their babies on the street. I mobilized my team and started reaching out to the girls to provide basic, accurate information and some essential items, and together they advocated to other females who are doctors, professors, and great stakeholders in their community and members of a coalition group. The advocacy led to the youth having access to a hospital where they receive health services including child delivery. Today, they no longer give birth on the street.

Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?

Interacting with friends, watching movies, and taking pictures.