On Sunday, March 8, SEGEI and Glamorous Mothers Development Initiative (GLAMODI) hosted the 3rd annual Purple Ball at the Hotel Rosebud (former Nanet Suites) in Central Business District, Abuja, commemorating the International Women’s Day (IWD). The theme for the event was Generation Equality: Women’s Rights are Human Rights. The Keynote Speaker was Abiodun Essiet, Special Adviser to the Honourable Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council on ICT/Civil Societies and Donor Agencies. Other speakers included: Aisha Abdulahi Buba, a Psychologist and Founder of The Sunshine Series: Mind Wellness; Oluwafunke Adeoye, Founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa; Janet Data Halliday, Program Manager with Gender Mobile initiative and Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, Founder Shades of Us.
This year, the Purple Ball commemorated the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which is “a global commitment to achieving equality, development and peace for women worldwide”[1] adopted in September 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action highlighted critical areas for urgent action to advance equality and opportunities for women, men, girls and boys, including women and poverty, education and training of women women’s health, violence against women and women’s economic development. Twenty-five (25) outstanding women who have been able to rise above negativity and limitations to become the first in their respective families and career fields were acknowledged and celebrated. Women who have championed exceptional causes over the years especially in male dominated fields or paths that were hitherto not threaded were also celebrated.
Purple Ball brings together and celebrates the journeys of women whose acts of courage and determination have played an extraordinary role in the trajectory of their communities and country, particularly in advancing the health, rights and well-being of women and girls. The color Purple symbolizes justice and dignity – two values strongly associated with women’s and gender equality. The event stirred a discourse on how everyone plays a role in advancing gender equality in Nigeria. This year’s program honored Nigerian women who are the first in their family or career field to achieve a milestone that has advanced gender equality. The event also showcased SEGEI’s Evolve Mentorship Program (EMP), an innovative pan-African program that advances gender equality by bridging the mentorship gap for women aged 18-35 years.
The event culminated in a discussion panel by everyone present. Participants shared their thoughts on the struggles of women in Nigeria, especially when it comes to women supporting women. Participants, however, agreed that societal standards and financial inadequacies are parts of the major reasons why women don’t seem to thrive as much as their male counterparts in Nigeria. A short film entitled Time was shown. The film tells the story of a young heartbroken lady who struggled with negative and positive voices in her head after falling into depression following a terrible heartbreak. The voices told her to either end her life or keep pushing. Eventually, she listened to the positive voice and found her much needed joy in the end.
Speaking on the importance of the Purple Ball, Founder & Executive Director of SEGEI, Onyinye Edeh stated “Nigeria has the highest number of girls who are out of school. That is wrong; it’s totally unfair and unjust to our girls. We need to ensure that girls are able to go to school and women are able to participate in decision-making and earn equal pay for the work that they do. Equality is saying that everyone is respected and treated as a human being and given the opportunity to contribute their talents.”
Guests were provided with refreshments and the four hour event ended with participants dancing to melodious beats from the DJ.
[1] https://www.endfgm.eu/resources/international/beijing-declaration-and-platform-for-action/
