by Ruhamah Ifere Everything has a purpose, but not all purpose is known, and when purpose is not known, the abuse is inevitable. I have pondered on the theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child and realized that indeed there is a purpose for the theme. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, a …

Should Girls Rights Be Themed? Read More »

In every corner of Nigeria, a silent siege is taking place. It’s not the kind of siege that makes headlines or sparks protests. Instead, it’s a quieter, more insidious force—one that begins at birth and often lasts a lifetime.

by Joshua Kimera George Washington talks about the essential role of free speech in safeguarding democracy. Washington warns that without the ability to speak freely, individuals become vulnerable to manipulation and oppression, emphasising that the right to voice one’s thoughts is a critical necessity for society’s survival. If freedom of speech is taken away, then …

Navigating the Limits: Is Free Speech Truly Unrestricted? Read More »

by Metolo Foyet On the occasion of pride month, when time wore the colours of early June, an article by Monica Islam sparked a discussion about the evolving 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the controversies surrounding gender and sexuality in different cultural contexts. A notable incident occurred in Bangladesh, where references to the hijra community in grade 7 textbooks …

Homophobia in Africa: A Colonial Construct and Its Legal Fabrication Read More »

by Lilian Efobi Across the Commonwealth, young activists like Malala Yousafzai, Vanessa Nakate,  Kelvin Doe, Bindi Karia, Ayakha Melithafa, Alika Kinan, Anote Tong, Sonika Manandhar and Rinu Oduala are using their voices and actions to cause positive changes in their communities and beyond. In recent times, the organization, mobilization, and implementation of social movements have …

From Protest to Policy: How Gen Z is Revolutionizing Governance Reforms Read More »

by Monica Islam The Corona pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns were very depressing for me as I am someone who is accustomed to going outdoors and spending some time amidst nature. I am not very addicted to social media and other technological gadgets (although they help in beating boredom and loneliness to some extent). During …

Bangladesh – A Nation Incarcerated Read More »

by Similoluwa Ifedayo A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a great friend of mine, and he unconsciously opened my eyes to a few things I had been getting wrong while addressing some social issues like gender inequality, bad leadership, and poor youth involvement in power, among other things. However, this article centres …

Equality or Equity: Why 50/50 Isn’t the Goal Read More »

by Ruhamah Ifere As a young woman, I have been greatly inspired by three Nigerian SHEroes who fought gallantly for the rights of women, regardless of the opposition they faced. They each took up the responsibility for enabling other women and girls to achieve a shared purpose – Women’s voting rights, freedom from illegal tax, …

The Labour of Our SHEroes Past – Let It Never Be In Vain Read More »

by Duncan Gaswaga Freedom of speech, often considered the cornerstone of any democracy, is the liberty to express opinions without censorship, restraint or legal penalty. Today it is considered a fundamental human right and is included by multiple countries in their constitutions, one of the most famous being the First Amendment of the United States …

Is Free Speech Truly Free? Read More »

by Monica Islam Would you like your children to learn about ABCD in their schools or about LGBT? I request you to let that question sink in before you read any further. As the world is celebrating the LGBT Pride Month, I decided to report on the LGBT scene in Bangladesh. Recent Developments in Bangladesh …

From ABCD to LGBT Read More »