OKEI-ODUMAKIN: VALUED AT HOME, HONOURED ABROAD

Dr. Josephine Okei-Odumakin who has over 25 years experience in human rights work in Nigeria is the President of Campaign for Democracy, a human rights group which was at the forefront of enthroning democratic rule in Nigeria. She is also the president of Women Arise for Change Initiative; which was established in 2003 to work for the women folk. The group aims at breaking the culture of silence and finding expressions for women by encouraging them to come together and stand up against misuse and abuse, by the male-dominated society. More Photos Inside..

Last Friday, Okei-Odumakin alongside nine other “extra-ordinary women”, gained global recognition for their untiring efforts in the United States of America. They were presented with the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, on an occasion attended by First Lady Michelle Obama in the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the U.S. Department of State.

The Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award recognises annually women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women’s rights and empowerment, often at great personal risk.

Since the inception of this award in 2007, the Department of State has honored 67 women from 45 different countries.

The other nine women honoured alongside Joe Okei-Odumakin are Malalai Bahaduri, First Sergeant, Afghan National Interdiction Unit (Afghanistan); Samira Ibrahim, Co-coordinator, know your Rights (Egypt); Julieta castellanos Rector, National Autonomous University of Honduras (Honduras); Elena Milashina, journalist, human rights activist (Russia); Fartuun Adan, Executive Director, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre (Somalia); Tsering Woeser (Wei Se). Tibetan author, poet, blogger (China); Razan Zeitunah, human right lawyer and Founder, Local Coordination Committee (Syria); Ta Phong Tan, blogger (Vietnam) ; Nirbhaya ‘Fearless of Champion for Justice (India).

The honorees began their visit to the  United States in Pittsburgh where they participated in an open to the-press forum at Chatham University last Sunday March 4 as well as in meetings with organisations such as Women Girls Foundation and Gwen’s girls They arrived in Washington on march 6, 2012 for meetings with department of state and White House officials, members of Congress, and NGO leaders.

Following the award ceremony, the honorees will travel separately to cities across the United States to engage with the American people through an International Visitor Leadership Programme. Places that they will visit include Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Portland, San Francisco, and Tampa. The women will reconvene in San Diego to reflect on their visit and discuss ways to work together to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.

Before last Friday, Okei-Odumakin had received numerous awards at the national and international levels and these include, the United Nations of Youth Nigeria which in 2007 gave her an award as the “Hero of Democracy and Good Governance”.

In October 2007, she was given an award by Development Issues Initiatives Association (DINA) for her contribution to national development and human rights.

The same October, she was given an award by Human Rights Now as “The Defender of Women”. In September 2007, the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State Chapter gave her an award as “The Hero of Democracy”.

The CD President also in 2008 received an award in Imo State of Nigeria as “The Defender of Women’s Rights” during the commemoration of Aba Women Riot. In August 19, 2008, she was authorised and commissioned to serve as an ambassador of goodwill from Arkansas to the people of nations beyond the borders of the United States or wherever this Ambassador of Arkansas may hereafter travel or reside. In March, 2010 ‘Rebrand Nigeria’ gave her an award as the “Hero of Democracy”.

In May, CEPAN recognised her as an “Advocate for Good Governance”. In September 2010, the Priceless Jewels Initiative gave her an award as the “Champion of Women Empowerment”, October 2010 “Beacon of Hope Award” given by Empower Africa for Change.

February 2011, Change Nigeria Today honoured her as Amazon of Democracy. In April, 2011, Women Democratic Frontiers recognised her as champion of Women Cause.

In June, 2011, History and International Relations Students, of the Lagos State University (LASU) gave her an award as Icon of Democracy.

In August 2011, Priceless Jewels Initiative honoured her as Hero of Democracy Also on March 28, 2012, the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) gave her an Appreciation Award for her contribution to workers’ education in Nigeria.

Joe, as she is popularly called in the human rights circles, traversed courageously where even men folks feared to tread. She has remained consistent and resolute in upholding the human rights crusade without minding the hazards to her person in a society where critical voices are loathed by unjust system which rewards the crooks and punishes the just. Joe was born in Zaria on July 4, 1966 and grew up in Ilorin where she started her early education at St. Barnabas Primary School, Ilorin and obtained the first school leaving certificate.

She thereafter moved to Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin where she passed her West Africa School Certificate. She pursued her ‘A’ levels at the School of Basic Studies, Kwara State Polytechnic. She later proceeded to the University of Ilorin where she got a BA.ED English and Education in 1987.

She returned to the same university and bagged her M.Ed in Guidance and Counseling and her PhD (History and Policy of Education) in 1996.

She cut her teeth in activism as the Secretary of Women in Nigeria (WIN), Kwara State, from 1988 – 1991 and the Coordinator of Women in Nigeria (WIN), Kwara State branch 1991 – 1996; Chairperson, Rethink Nigeria (1987 – 1992) and Chairperson, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Kwara State branch (1990 – 1996).

The time she made a foray into human rights activism was a period when the Babangida dictatorship was baring its fangs and incarcerating those perceived as radicals.

Thus she became one of the prime targets of the administration as she was arrested and detained for no fewer than17 times at different locations. But as a true Amazon, she was undaunted and her spirit remained unbroken.

She became the Assistant General Secretary of Campaign for Democracy (CD) in 1994 at a time the battle against the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election had become so fierce. She was the General-Secretary of the body from March 1996 to July 29, 2006 and she became the President on July 29, 2006.

Okei-Odumakin is also the Executive Director of the Institute of Human Rights and Democratic Studies; Chairman, Task Force of the Citizens Forum; Spokesperson, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, and President, Centre for Change in Community Development and Public Awareness(CDP). Her consistency and unwavering determination for survival of democracy in Nigeria made Professor Wole Soyinka describe her as follows on 4th July 2006.

“I present to you a tireless fighter whose frail bearing bellies an inner strength and resilient purpose, a veteran of affirmative marches, of crude arrests and detentions, baton charges and tear-gas, who has lent luster to the struggle for justice and human dignity, who remains an inspiration to men and women, old and young”.

And at the celebration of Ambassador Walter Carrington’s 80th birthday commemoration in Lagos, the Ambassador in recognition of her efforts in sustaining democracy in Nigeria, described her as “a fearless, fiery champion of democracy and human rights”.