The first edition of our Intergenerational Dialogues Session was held on Wednesday, 24th September 2025 with Yéyé Bunmi Dipo-Salami Executive director of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Ms. Priscilla Usiobaifo, founder of Brave Art Initiative for Youth and Women, and Dr Josephine Effah Chukwuma, Executive Chair of ICCEF and a feminist leader with decades of work in advancing women’s rights. It was a landmark gathering that brought women across generations together to share experiences, lessons, and hopes for the future while reflecting on feminism and women’s human rights.
The session opened with introductions and warm remarks from Ayotola Olanrewaju, ICCEF’s Program Manager, who set the tone for the day. Our participants were welcome by the EC and reminded of the mission of ICCEF: to foster understanding across generations and to strengthen gender representation. More than just a moderator, she spoke with the authority of someone who has dedicated her life to the feminist movement, and her reflections throughout the conversation added depth and weight to the dialogue.
She reminded participants of the importance of building stronger and more resilient communities through dialogue and collaboration. Drawing on her decades of advocacy, Mrs Josephine spoke about the resilience required to challenge patriarchal structures, the need to preserve feminist knowledge for younger generations, and the importance of amplifying women’s voices in spaces where they are often silenced. Her contributions highlighted the role of intergenerational mentorship as both a strategy and a duty, emphasizing that the knowledge of one generation must not be lost to the next.
Alongside her, Yéyé Bunmi traced her journey into feminism back to her childhood and her mother’s influence, describing feminism as the pursuit of justice and equality rooted in voice and choice. She reflected on her decades of advocacy, including her work on legal representation and workplace equality. Ms Priscilla, a millennial feminist mentored by Yéyé Bunmi, described her path from her early days at Baobab for Women’s Human Rights to founding Braveheart Initiative. She highlighted the deliberate choice to identify BHI as a feminist organization, ensuring that her work consistently centres women and resists patriarchal systems.
Together, the three leaders explored both historic and current realities. They reflected on the 1995 Beijing Conference, the first National Tribunal on violence against women, and how Nigerian women’s rights advocacy has evolved. They also acknowledged the struggles that persist today: femicide, sexual harassment, sextortion, and the watered-down implementation of laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. Mrs Josephine, drawing from her long years of activism, reminded the group that legal reforms mean little without enforcement, and called for collective action to hold institutions accountable.
The conversation also explored how to bridge divides within the feminist movement itself. Mrs Josephine pointed out the need to create intentional spaces for young women, especially in rural communities, to access opportunities and leadership training. Yéyé Bunmi stressed the value of combining institutional memory with new forms of digital activism, while Ms Priscilla called for reviving feminist forums and creating a resource hub to connect activists across regions and generations. Together, they agreed that collaboration, relationship building, and mentorship must remain central to the future of the movement.
Participants raised issues from their communities, including insecurity faced by women farmers, the challenges of women with disabilities, and the lack of safety for women in political and civic spaces. Mrs Josephine emphasized the importance of engaging men and young people as allies in fighting gender-based violence, while also underlining the need for women to recognize their own strength and collective power. Discussions on mental health and self-care also resonated deeply, with Mrs Josephine affirming that feminists must protect not just their rights but also their well-being if they are to continue leading change.
As the session ended, there was a strong sense of gratitude and renewed commitment. A participant expressed the importance of addressing gaps in opportunities for rural young women, while another spoke about insecurity and flooding affecting her community. Both speakers pledged to follow up, while another participant raised the importance of mentorship and self-awareness. This first edition of our Intergenerational Dialogues Session was a powerful reminder that every story shared, and every relationship built across generations strengthens the feminist movement. With voices like Josephine Effah Chukwuma, Yèyé Bunmi Dipo-Salami, and Priscilla Usiobaifo leading the way, it was not just a conversation but the beginning of a continuing effort to connect women across age groups and backgrounds in the pursuit of justice, equality, and resilient communities.
Add your first comment to this post