society
August Women: From Union Buildings to Nigerian Villages ~ A Global Celebration of Women’s Power
August Women: From Union Buildings to Nigerian Villages ~ A Global Celebration of Women’s Power.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | SaharaWeeklyNG.com
On August 9, 1956, an extraordinary act of courage unfolded in Pretoria, South Africa. Over 20,000 women of all races (Africans, Coloureds, Indians and Whites) marched to the Union Buildings, the seat of the apartheid government. They came not with weapons or violence, but with unyielding determination. Their mission was clear: to demand an end to the dehumanising “pass laws” that restricted the movement of Black South Africans.
Led by fearless women such as Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, the marchers handed over petitions to then-Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom, declaring their resistance to a system that sought to control their very existence. They stood in silence for 30 minutes, a silence that roared louder than any war cry, before breaking into song “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!” (“You strike a woman, you strike a rock”).
This was not merely a protest. It was a historic declaration that women would no longer be silent in the face of injustice. It was a reminder to governments and societies worldwide that oppressing women is a war against humanity itself.
From Protest to National Recognition. In 1995, a year after South Africa’s first democratic elections, President Nelson Mandela’s government officially declared August 9th a public holiday (National Women’s Day) to honour the bravery of the 1956 marchers. Since then, August has been celebrated as Women’s Month, not only to remember the past but to reaffirm the fight against gender inequality, gender-based violence and economic exclusion of women.
South African Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, once said: “When we celebrate Women’s Month, we are not merely applauding history; we are committing ourselves to dismantle every barrier that still exists for women today.”
Indeed, the challenges are far from over. While women’s political participation has improved (South Africa boasts one of the highest proportions of women in parliament globally) economic inequality and violence against women remain severe. The South African Police Service reported over 53,000 sexual offences in 2024, most of them against women and children.
The Nigerian Women’s August Meeting: A Parallel Tradition of Power. Interestingly, while South Africa commemorates its historic Women’s March every August, another powerful women’s tradition unfolds in Nigeria. Across many Nigerian communities, August Meeting is a month-long homecoming for women (especially those living in cities and abroad) who return to their home towns to deliberate on development, peace and social progress.
Originating in the 1940s and strengthened in the post-independence era, the August Meeting is not a festival of mere socialising. It is a deliberative assembly where women discuss pressing issues ie; education, healthcare, domestic violence, youth empowerment and community development projects. Funds are raised, schools are renovated, health centres are equipped and scholarships are awarded.
Dr. Uche Azikiwe, wife of Nigeria’s first president, once described the August Meeting as: “A parliament of women by women, for women and for the society. It is a model of grassroots democracy that men would do well to learn from.”
The meetings also serve as conflict resolution platforms, where disputes within families and communities are addressed before they escalate. In a society where patriarchy often sidelines women’s voices, the August Meeting reaffirms women’s agency and leadership in governance; albeit at the community level.
Shared Spirit: From Pretoria to Nigerian Villages. Although separated by geography and context, South Africa’s 1956 Women’s March and Nigeria’s August Meeting share a common spirit: the unshakeable determination of women to shape the destiny of their communities. Both movements are rooted in the understanding that women are not just nurturers of homes but architects of nations.
As the Zulu saying from the 1956 march goes:
“Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!”
Translated: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.” This phrase captures the indomitable resilience of women, whether they are facing the apartheid regime in Pretoria or tackling social issues in rural Nigeria.
Why Women’s Struggles Remain Urgent. Globally, the United Nations warns that gender inequality could take up to 300 years to close at the current rate of progress. Women continue to earn less than men for the same work, face higher unemployment rates and bear the disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic labour.
In Africa, the World Bank reports that only 37% of women have access to formal employment, compared to 55% of men. In Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics records a 30% wage gap between men and women. Moreover, gender-based violence remains a global crisis. In South Africa, a woman is murdered every three hours, according to 2024 police statistics. In Nigeria, rape conviction rates are below 2%, despite rising reports.
As Nigerian human rights activist Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin has often said: “A society that fails to protect its women has no moral authority to call itself civilised.”
Beyond Celebration: A Call to Action. While August is a month of celebration, it must also be a month of reckoning. Honouring women means more than giving speeches and issuing symbolic awards. It requires concrete action, laws that protect women from violence, policies that promote equal pay and investment in girls’ education.
Countries that have embraced gender equality have reaped massive benefits. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, closing the gender gap in Africa’s labour force could add $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2030. Empowering women is not charity. It is an economic necessity.
A Personal Tribute. As a Nigerian living in South Africa, I am struck by the beautiful coincidence that both South Africa and Nigerian women have chosen August to celebrate women’s strength and leadership. I celebrate:
The women of South Africa, whose bravery in 1956 still inspires freedom movements worldwide.
The women of Nigeria, especially those who sustain the tradition of the August Meeting, shaping their communities with wisdom and courage.
The women of the world, who daily resist discrimination, build businesses, raise families, and stand at the frontlines of change.
I echo the words of Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee, who led the women’s peace movement that ended Liberia’s civil war:
“You can never leave footprints that last if you are always walking on tiptoe.”
Parting Thoughts: Rocks Do Not Break Easily. The women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956 were rocks. The Nigerian women who gather each August are rocks. The mothers, daughters and sisters who hold communities together are rocks. Rocks may be weathered by time, but they are not broken easily.
As we celebrate Women’s Month and the August Meeting this year, let us remember that the fight for women’s equality is far from over. Let us commit ourselves to dismantling every remaining barrier (legal, economic, and cultural) that stands in the way of full equality.
This is because when you strike a woman, you do not just strike a rock, you strike the very foundation of civilisation.
Happy Women’s Day.
By. George Omagbemi Sylvester
Epe Premier Club Meets Obasa Ahead of Baba Bamu’s Immortalisation
The leadership of the prestigious Epe Premier Club on Wednesday, January 28, paid a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, as part of preparations for the Club’s inaugural immortalisation ceremony in honour of their founding fathers.
Led by Hon. Abiodun Mustainu Tobun, the delegation briefed Speaker Obasa on the Club’s resolve to inaugurate a new era of recognising and immortalising iconic figures who contributed significantly to the socio-political and cultural development of Epe Division while they are still alive. He explained that the Club had unanimously selected Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu—a respected member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and political leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Epe Division—as the first honouree.
Hon. Tobun emphasised that Baba Bamu embodies leadership, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to the growth of Epe, describing him as a mentor and pillar whose contributions have shaped the region’s political trajectory.
Responding, Speaker Obasa commended the Epe Premier Club for its foresight in institutionalising a programme to honour the legacies of distinguished individuals. He applauded the choice of Alhaji Seriki Bamu, noting that his impact, political maturity, and statesmanship continue to resonate across Lagos State.
Obasa expressed gratitude for the invitation and assured the delegation of his support and presence at the celebration, stressing the importance of recognising leaders who have given immensely to community and state development.
The courtesy visit also provided a platform for broader conversations on civic engagement, community empowerment, and collaborations aimed at further advancing Epe Division.
The immortalisation ceremony for Alhaji Akanni Seriki Bamu will take place in the coming weeks and is expected to draw dignitaries, community stakeholders, and residents in large numbers.
society
Africa Gospel Film Project Launched to Train a New Generation of Christian Filmmakers Across Africa
Africa Gospel Film Project Launched to Train a New Generation of Christian Filmmakers Across Africa
Abuja, Nigeria – January 2026 — Gospel Cinema International has officially announced the launch of the Africa Gospel Film Project (AGFP), a bold, multi-year capacity-building and film production initiative designed to equip African Christian filmmakers with professional skills, spiritual depth, and global distribution pathways.
Africa is home to over 600 million Christians, yet African faith-based films remain significantly underrepresented in global catalogues. AGFP was created to address this gap by training filmmakers, producing premium-quality faith-based content, and strategically connecting Africa’s Christian film ecosystem to the global market.
The project will launch its first phase with a 6-Day Immersive Filmmaking & Spiritual Formation Program, scheduled to hold April 13–18, 2026, in Nigeria, followed by the production of an 8-episode faith-based series later in the year.
“Film is one of the most powerful tools shaping culture and belief today,” said Bright Wonder Obasi, president of Gospel Cinema International. “Africa Gospel Film Project is not just about making films—it is about shaping storytellers who understand both excellence and spiritual responsibility.”
AGFP will focus on:
Professional training in screenwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, producing, and acting
Deep spiritual formation and mentorship
Collaborative production and international distribution pathways.
Gospel Cinema International is a faith-driven film development organization committed to training, producing, and distributing impactful Christian films that shape culture and inspire faith globally.
Applications and partnership discussions are now open.
For applications and information:
visit www.gospelcinemaint.com
Email [email protected]
Follow @gosplecinemtrybe across social media for updates.
2027: Group Urges Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi to Contest Niger Governorship
A group known as the Niger Progressives & Prosperity Promoters (NPPP) has issued a strong public appeal urging Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Niger State.
In a statement dated January 27, 2026, signed by Dr. Ibrahim K. Mohammed as convener, the group criticized the current administration under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for what it described as excessive international travels, unfulfilled agreements, and lack of tangible development in areas like water supply, jobs, agriculture, security, and infrastructure, despite the state’s abundant resources.
The statement described Malagi—a former governorship aspirant in 2023, media entrepreneur, and federal minister—as the ideal candidate, highlighting his calm, strategic, results-oriented leadership style, national experience, and ability to deliver without theatrics or corruption.
It emphasized that the call transcends party lines and urged youths, elders, professionals, farmers, and community leaders to rally behind competence for Niger State’s progress, describing the moment as a critical crossroads where delay risks further decline.
Full Press Statement:
Enough Is Enough: A Clarion Call on Mohammed Idris Malagi to Step Forward in 2027.
There comes a moment in the life of a people when patience expires and silence becomes betrayal. Niger State has reached that moment.
Our state stands at a dangerous crossroads rich in land, water, and people, yet poor in outcomes; blessed with opportunity, yet trapped in underperformance. What we suffer today is not a lack of promises, but a surplus of them. Not a lack of travels, agreements, or signatures, but a tragic absence of results.
For three years, Niger State has been subjected to a governance style that prioritizes junketing over delivery leaders hopping from the USA to the UAE, from Russia to China, Brazil to South Africa, Egypt to Singapore. From Lagos State to Dangote multi billion agreements, signing glossy Memoranda of Understanding that never translate into water in our taps, food on our tables, jobs for our youths, or dignity for our people.
Agreements without impact are not achievements. Frequent flights without measurable outcomes are not leadership. Sophisticated paperwork masking systemic corruption is not governance. Niger State does not need a globe-trotting signatory-in-chief. Niger State needs a governor.
Why the Call Is Now Unavoidable:
This is why the call across Niger State is no longer cautious or quiet. It is bold, collective, and unmistakable:
Mohammed Idris Malagi must hear the cry of the masses, the unpaid pensioners, the poor farmers that have not seen fertilizer for their farms, and the teeming unemployed youths to contest for the Governorship of Niger State in 2027.
This is no longer a suggestion. It is a call to duty. The people are tired of leadership that manages decline instead of driving development. Tired of carefully crafted speeches that produce no schools, no hospitals, no security, no water, and no agricultural value chain. Tired of a system that looks sophisticated on paper but is rotten in practice.
Niger State must break free from this cycle.
What Niger State Needs Now Is Calm, Astute, and Results-Driven Leadership.
Mohammed Idris Malagi represents a fundamentally different leadership model one rooted in calm authority, strategic thinking, and execution, not noise, lousiness or theatrics.
His leadership style is not impulsive or erratic. It is measured, deliberate, and intelligent. He listens, analyzes, decides, and delivers. He does not confuse activity with productivity or visibility with value. He share responsibility and respect views and dialogues.
At the national level, Malagi has demonstrated a deep understanding of how power, policy, and institutions truly function not in theory, but in reality. He has mastered the ability to articulate vision clearly and earn public confidence without intimidation or propaganda.
He has the discipline to operate under intense pressure while maintaining clarity, composure, and direction. With the capacity to move complex systems from decision to implementation, not endless committees, fraudulent entities and excuses. This is executive leadership, this is governor-level competence. Niger State does not need a power monger who monopolizes authority at the expense of good governance. It needs a leader already tested by complexity.
Niger State cannot afford anymore four years of experimental governance. Another cycle of foreign trips with no domestic impact. Another administration that signs agreements while communities remain abandoned. Another sophisticated corruption network dressed up as reform of “New Niger” an agenda of multiple corruption must not be allowed to continue, to be governed by a system that looks modern but delivers poverty.
A Leadership Moment That Cannot Be Deferred is now.
At crossroads, delay equals decline.
Insecurity deepens while opportunities slip away. Public trust erodes while governance becomes increasingly disconnected from lived realities. Incrementalism is no longer an option.
Niger State see in Malagi as the next governor that will be Prepared, not rehearsing; Decisive, not tentative; Calm, not chaotic; Nationally respected, yet deeply rooted in local realities; Bold enough to reform systems, not merely administer decay.
Mohammed Idris Malagi fits this moment not by coincidence, but by competence.
Beyond Party Lines, For Niger State
This clarion call is not anchored on any political party. It is anchored on capacity, courage, and commitment.
Political parties are vehicles. Leadership is the engine.
On whatever platform the people choose, Mohammed Idris Malagi represents a unifying option one capable of bridging zones, generations, faiths, and political divides. This is not about comfort or convention; it is about survival, progress, and dignity.
To Mohammed Idris Malagi: History Is Knocking
History does not knock endlessly. When it does, it demands a response.
This is not about personal ambition. It is about responsibility to a state at risk of prolonged stagnation. The people are watching. The moment is ripe. The call is clear.
Mohammed Idris Malagi, Niger State calls on you to contest for Governor in 2027.
Step forward. Offer your service. Accept the burden of leadership.
The Movement Starts Now
This is a call to youths and elders, professionals and farmers, traders, artisans, traditional rulers, and religious leaders across Niger State:
Rally around competence, not convenience.
Choose results over rhetoric.
Demand leadership, not excuses.
Let it be said that when Niger State stood at a crossroads, its people chose direction over drift, courage over comfort, and leadership over illusion.
2027 must be the year Niger State takes its future back.
And that future must begin with decisive, calm, and competent leadership.
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