The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo will on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 host men at a town hall meeting in his palace to strengthened family and community bonds.
Penpushing reports that the event is being organized by Nigeria’s only female-centric radio station 91.7FM under the theme, “Strengthening Family and Community Bonds- The Role of Men in Protecting Women and Girls’.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Women Radio Toun Okewale Sonaiya affirmed that invitations have been sent out to participants who as at the time of filing this report have confirmed receipt and attendance
Penpushing further reports that she added that among participants include traditional rulers, faith leaders, policymakers, community chairmen, corporate leaders, and other male stakeholders.
The renowned female journalist added that participants will focus on a crucial dialogue on male accountability, family cohesion, and collective protection of women and girls, noting that Nigeria, like many societies, struggle with deep-rooted gender disparities, where women and girls face systemic vulnerabilities from domestic violence to limited access to opportunities.
Penpushing also reports that Okewale-Sonaiya noted that while advocacy for women’s rights has grown, the critical role of men as allies, protectors, and change agents remains underexplored in mainstream discourse.
‘We cannot achieve a peaceful and safe community by speaking only to women. Men as fathers, brothers, sons, leaders, and partners must be active participants in this movement’, she emphasised.
‘True protection is not controlled. It is respect, and advocacy with shared responsibility in shifting mindsets, strengthening families, and building communities where women and girls are safe, valued and men duly respected’, Okewale-Sonaiya added.
‘We know that men listen to men and boys are influenced by male elders in their community. We are deeply honoured and grateful that the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland HRM Ọba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III for leading this conversation”
Penpushing reports that she explained that the townhall meeting will address pressing questions including mobilising men as advocates, not adversaries, leveraging cultural and traditional frameworks to reinforce positive masculinity and institutionalising community systems to protect women and girls from violence and discrimination.
‘Through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and policy roundtables, the event will explore actionable strategies, including engaging boys in early education to protect girls, healthy relationships, strengthening community-based protection systems through traditional institutions and corporate and governmental policies that incentivize male allyship in workplaces and homes’, she added.
‘This meeting marks the beginning of a sustained movement to engage custodians of our culture as partners in moving Nigeria closer to a place where women and girls move freely without fear, where families thrive on mutual respect; where communities unite in safeguarding the rights and dignity of all’, Okewale-Sonaiya stated.
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