2020
Rafiat (Tolulope) Akinokun
- Age: 26
- | She/her/hers
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We live in a diverse and challenging world. It's high time young people, especially women, get involved in decision making and policymaking. The intelligence, strength, and innate compassion of young women should be strategically utilized to build a healthy and responsible community.
- Rafiat (Tolulope) Akinokun
Bio
Rafiat (Tolulope) Akinokun was born and raised in Nigeria. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in 2019. Tolulope is an In-house Counselor and State Lead at Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, First Aid Provider at Nigerian Red Cross Society, Public Health Educator at Nigeria Universities Nursing Students Association, and volunteer at Flow Project.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
The society I live in has been the push. Girls are raised to be responsible for the care of the family at a tender age at the expense of their own comfort while still being abused. I believe a society where women can live freely and be respected is possible.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
I formed a coalition with public health nurses to educate and provide contraceptives to women in a very remote Hausa settlement in Oyo state, Nigeria while training. This led to an increased awareness of reproductive health and reduced reproductive rate in the settlement.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy reading, traveling, and baking in my spare time.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Yoruba (Advanced/Native)
