My 2 cents on the rejection of the Gender Equality Bill

Did you take the time to watch that video? Did you hear the delight in the voices of the 'nays'? Did you hear the slight giggle at the end after Saraki declared that the nays have it? Did it make you cringe?

You would wonder what exactly the bill contains that would make people charged with the responsibility to chart a path for this country and lead us, so uncomfortable. Could it be women reaching the legal adult age and giving full consent before delving into an institution as fundamental as marriage? Or could it be widows having automatic rights to the fortunes of their husbands, likely created in parts by their sweat and toil? Or is it that employability should be on equal terms and payment for services should have no gender discriminatory conditions? I don't get it.

The senate president has said there are some components of the bill that made it uncomfortable in consideration of the diverse religions and traditions in the country. I can imagine that challenge. There is nothing worse than trying to forge ahead and having to consider the idiosyncrasies, preferences and sometimes fanatisms of multiple groups of people. But then again, aren't there philosophies and clear truths that supersede all those? Aren't matters of equal opportunity, discrimination and abuse part of these?

Do the math...imagine the level of economic freedom and relief this bill could yield - less widows needing support from the government or philanthropists since they would have an inheritance; more SMEs and an improved workforce to drive the economy since girls will legally join in without having to worry about being called 'over ambitious' and 'bossy'; reduced maternal mortality and cases of VVF since females will be getting married and giving birth at a time when their minds and bodies should have developed well enough; population control since girls won't be married off early and kept in homes to be 'layers'; a statistically apt record of marriages, family and eventually, population since marriages will only be recognised when put in writing and made legal. I could go on and on to describe how this bill is a firm part of our future as a nation but most importantly, I must mention how it would be a promise of a more vibrant and dynamic future generation since they will be raised by mothers who had it all together.

I feel like there is a big problem if the sound of the gender equality call has not rung loud enough for our leaders to hear. I feel like we have gone past the point where the conversation of gender equality is negotiated on the basis of religion and tradition. I feel like there is a big problem if our leaders believe that genders are not equal so much so as to not make a move towards its implementation.