Former NAWOJ President, Evelyn Onyilo Mourns Hauwa Shekarau

BY EDMOND ODOK – Former President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Publisher of Phenomenal People Magazine, Evelyn Onyilo has described the death of Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Barrister Hauwa Shekarau, as a huge blow to gender rights movement in Nigeria.

Onyilo said the late Bar Shekarau was “a trailblazer, friend, sister, human and women’s rights advocate” whose works as a former National President of Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) contributed immensely to Nigeria’s development process.

Onyilo, the founder of Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD), expressed sadness at the sudden demise of Bar Shekarau, noting that she “contributed her very best in making the world liveable for the downtrodden and less privileged.”

In a statement she personally signed in Abuja on Friday, Onyilo said; “It is indeed with deep pain and sadness that we from Phenomenal People Magazine received the news of the death of our trailblazer, friend, sister, human and women’s rights advocate Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau.

“This is a blow not only to the gender rights movement in the FCT but to our country generally. Barrister Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau has contributed immensely to national development in many spheres including her legal profession, politically, her state, community, and women’s rights specifically women inclusion in governance and campaign against gender-based violence.

“She lived a purpose-driven life of making the world a better place for all especially the poor and downtrodden.”

Going down memory lane, Onyilo recalled how closely she worked with the late Barr. Shekarau when the latter was the FCT chapter Chairperson of FIDA at a time when she (Onyilo) was the National President of NAWOJ in 2002 in the advancement of the campaign against gender-based violence.

“Barrister Hauwa became close to us at the time I was National President of NAWOJ in 2002. She was FCT FIDA Chair. We worked closely in the Coalition for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Bill which was then in the National Assembly. Her tireless efforts together with other key stakeholders led to the passage of the VAPP Act in 2015.

“Since then, we have worked together in many gender-related advocacy groups and even some political affiliations. She was kindhearted, warm, and humble. She would support any worthy course with her time talent and treasure.”

The ex-NAWOJ President, who also extolled Hauwa’s impact to the world, noted that her memories and legacies will linger, adding; “As Country Director of Ipas, Dr. Hauwa Shekarau gave support to our NGO, INWOAD right from its formative period.”

While joining other women rights advocates in the country to mourn the late Bar Shekarau, Onyilo said her death will be a huge loss to the gender agenda in Nigeria and prayed that God should comfort the grieving family in this trying time.