Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, while urging Africans’ on the need to embrace positive masculinity, has stated that men too are victims of patriarchy.
The Country Director made this statement today in Abuja during the commemoration of Father’s Day, hosted by ActionAid Nigeria in collaboration with Ford Foundation.
The program was centered on transformative approach to ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV), through expressions of positive masculinity.
Positive masculinity, also called healthy masculinity, and traditionally associated to men, has been historically associated with qualities such as; leadership, strength and courage.
This qualities challenge the harmful norms of traditional masculinity, which usually equates manhood with dominance, aggression, and violence. Positive masculinity promotes empathy, respect, and partnership, encouraging men to break free from harmful stereotypes and embrace a more balanced and compassionate approach to life.
The event, themed: “Experience and Lessons in Applying Positive Masculinity in Addressing Gender-Based Violence in the African Sub-Region”, brought together prominent male leaders from across West Africa, including traditional rulers, lawmakers, media practitioners, civil society leaders, and community champions to share experiences, best practices, and explore multi-sectoral solutions within inclusive, gender-just frameworks.
In his welcome remarks, Andrew Mamedu, ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, stated that the event was beyond celebrating Fathers Day; it was a call to reflect and answer questions of what it really means to be a man, and how we can move from masculinity rooted in dominance and silence.
“We are here today because the Africa we want is an Africa of peace, equity and inclusive development and that cannot be built on this shaky foundation of harmfulness in many of our communities.”
He expounded, that traits of negative masculinity are often seen as signs of strength, but in truth; frequently leads to insecurity, broken relationships; that are unhealthy and violent, especially against women and girls.
In his keynote address, the former Country Director of AAN, Hussaini Abdu, now Director, Pan-African and New Power Advocacy Office/Representative to the African Union, explained further the essence of positive masculinity. He stated that as a society, it is important to raise boys that are not scared to embrace masculinity (positive).
“Masculinity is not monolithic and can be reconstructed.”
Delivering their goodwill messages, Dr Otive Igbuzor, the Founding Executive Director of Centre LSD, The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, represented by Chief Mene Brown, Alhaji Haruna Garba, Country Representative of the UN Women and many others emphasized the importance of positive masculinity, recognising the responsibility to address the issues, understanding; that the issue is not to establish hierarchy but for men and women to see each other as equals.
