Sunday 10 December 2017

Oby Nwankwo: Our Great Gender Champion is Gone!



Dear National Democratic Institute and Country Folks,
On or about February 2017, upon my inquiry on why the GEO Bill was being delayed, NDI gender advisor Ms Ene Edeh asked me to personally liaise with my learned friend, Oby Nwankwo who was co-ordinating legislative activities towards the enactment of the Gender Equal Opportunities Bill. I enthused that the Senate President and Speaker Dogara should get NASS to pass this Bill.

Barrister Mrs Oby Nwankwo was in CEDAW New York. Well known to me, I said to my Learned Lady Oby as we were soon to interact, what kept the Bill from passing and her thoughts moving forward? She said she was planning a workshop after the foiled attempt at a public hearing of the national assembly. The workshop was intended to get Islamic scholars like Emir Sanusi and others to present on gender rights bearing in mind HRM our Sultan’s position. I was on Facebook now 10/12/17 and read from OSIWA’s personnel and others post she passed and condolence messages were being written. I asked on FB what happened to Nigeria’s great gender champion. Please NDI find out was she ill?.

Barrister Mrs. Oby Nwankwo, founder and Executive Director of the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), non-governmental organization, held a Masters degree in Law. She retired from the magistracy after 23 years of service; a human rights activist, election observer she had been in the forefront of the campaign for women’s rights. She was a mobiliser, consultant and trainer/Facilitator and author of several publications on gender and women’s rights. She represented Africa on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (ICC); was on ICC Gender Justice Team; Advisory Board member of Global Fund for Women.
Member CEDAW committee UN working in New York City when it happened.
Resquiescat in pace
Respectfully
Attorney Carol Ajie

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