Joe Okei-Odumakin

Josephine Obiajulu Odumakin in 2013

Dr. Josephine Obiajulu Okei-Odimakin is a Nigerian women's rights activist. She is the president of the human rights groups, Women Arise for Change Initiative and the Campaign for Democracy.

Quotes

• Women generally speak the same language – silence, and breaking this culture is what a few women have tried to do. A lot of women are not empowered and they allow themselves to be used by politicians as cheer leaders. They bring them to clap at political rallies.
  • [1]Joe Okei-Odumakin speaking on women achievement.

• When there is justice, fairness and equity. When human rights are guaranteed and when the system works.
  • [2]Joe Okei-Odumakin speaking on the end of struggles in Nigeria.

• This is unacceptable! Nigeria is a democratic country under the law and not a dictatorship or banana republic.
  • [3] Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin speaks on the gradual shift of Nigeria towards a dictatorship.

• Freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of movement are some of the fundamental human rights granted to Nigerian citizens by the 1999 Constitution as amended... We, therefore, condemn the shooting of Sowore as barbaric and an infringement of his rights under the law.
  • [4] Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin commenting on the arrest of Sowore by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

• It is very, very important that in as much as we try to protect the rights of those who believe in same-sex marriage, we still have to let them understand the consequences in terms of the health hazards and all that, but, if it is their own choice, there is really nothing one can do about it.
  • [5] Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin answering a question in an interview about the legislation on same-sex marriage, on Channels TV.

• It is so obvious that the Nigerian society is not committed to the wellbeing of the girl child going by the spate of sexual violence on girl children in recent time and the high level of abandonment and threat to the education and health of the girl child.
  • [6] Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin speaks on the failure of the government to rescue the abducted Chibok girls.

• There is no country that can prosper if a quarter of its population is left behind. And the wellbeing of girls amounts to the wellbeing of the country.
  • [7] Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin speaks on securing schools for girls.

• Education still remains the quickest way to liberate a mind and no amount of talk can do this if we fail to educate the girl child. I also believe that laws protecting the girl child must not only be enacted but must also be enforced. And we must ensure compliance.
  • "Education, only route to girl child’s liberation" - Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin emphasizing on the need for education in the country, especially for the girl child.