In 2021, Ruhamah Ifere was selected as one of the 19 youths for the Speak Up Stand Out (SUSO) project by the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through VOICE.
The project which took place in Abuja, Enugu and Lagos States, empowered 19 activists and 211 advocates with the knowledge, skills and resources to drive social change.
As an activist on the SUSO project, Ruhamah played an active role in leading the advocacy and mobilising young people to challenge the issue of gender-based violence in a community in Lagos State.
Following the project, we have observed Ruhamah’s continued dedication to addressing gender-based violence and promoting peace and security for young women and girls. She was recently recognised by the Nigeria Volunteers Award Project for her efforts in addressing gender-based violence. Additionally, she has been honoured as the President of the Rotary Club Isolo, Lagos State.
Let’s have a chat with Ruhamah!
Q1. Hi Ruhamah! It’s been an incredible journey since you became an activist through the 2021 Speak Up Stand Out project. Could you explain what inspired your project against gender-based violence and its impact?
Response:
My name is Ruhamah Ifere, and I am an award-winning Gender Equality Activist, Consultant, Women’s Empowerment Coach, and Community Peacebuilder with a background in Law. I am dedicated to advancing gender equality and promoting women’s rights.
In 2021, I was honoured to be part of the Speak Up Stand Out (SUSO) project organised by the Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs) funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs through VOICE.
I served as a Peace and Security Activist. This gave me the opportunity to plan and execute the Sexual Offences Watch Observers (SOWO) Project, which incited behavioural and attitudinal changes in the minds of over 5000 young individuals, encouraging them to speak up against sexual gender-based violence. #Rethinkinggenderbasedviolence.
The Sexual Offences Watch Observers (SOWO) Project was inspired by the critical need to combat the alarming rise in sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls. The tragic case of Uwa, a young undergraduate who was brutally raped and murdered in a church in Benin State, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ignited widespread outrage and underscored the severity of the issue.
In response, the SOWO Project was launched to drive significant behavioural and attitudinal changes among young people. This initiative aims to raise awareness, foster empathy, and promote active engagement in the fight against sexual violence. To date, we have reached and positively impacted. women, girls, and men, in our mission to create a safer and more equitable society.
Q2. It’s been a year since the SUSO project ended. How did the project shape you as a social impact leader? Also, with the benefit of hindsight, do you have any feedback or lessons from your participation?
Response:
As an activist in the SUSO project, I acquired the knowledge and financial resources to drive change through the Sexual Offences Watch Observers Project. This experience allowed me to enhance my advocacy skills, including project management, monitoring and evaluation, and community mobilisation. I led a team of 10 young activists and collaborated with 25 female ambassadors in the Oworo Ferry community to host a gender equality advocacy workshop and establish access to reporting mechanisms through a partnership with the Mirabel Centre – Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
This project expanded my perspective on collaborating with various stakeholders, such as young girls, civil society organisations like the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Lagos State, non-governmental organisations like the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) YPP, and policy activists.
Q3. Congratulations on the ‘Sexual Offence Watch Observers Initiative’ being recognised by the Nigeria Volunteers Award project, your recent multiple recognitions and leadership strides deserve celebration. How did you feel seeing your advocacy effort being recognised?
Response:
Seeing our advocacy efforts recognised has been incredibly validating. It confirms that the work we are doing at SOWO is making a significant impact.
Since the conclusion of the Speak Up Stand Out project organised by NGYouthSDGs, we have been relentless in our pursuit of positive change. Our gender equality school tour reached over five secondary schools. We had the honour of hosting Joseph Kruzich from the United States Consulate in Lagos, who spoke to students at Kadara and Jibowu High Schools in Lagos State. Additionally, our 3-day gender equality advocacy and skills acquisition program empowered 100 women in the Obadia community. We also conducted a pan-African 5-week masterclass as part of the fourth cycle of the UN Nigeria UPR engagement with stakeholders.
Each of these milestones reflects our ongoing commitment and collaborative efforts, and seeing them acknowledged motivates us to continue striving for progress.
Q4. As a young social impact leader, can you share three principles you live by that other young leaders can imbibe?
Response:
Always seek the face of God: I put God at the centre of my work because He is the source from which all ideas flow to me. In this life, there is a need to have a relationship with our creator to guide us on the right path.
Believe in your vision, then act on it: I strongly believe that a leader must first believe in the vision before communicating it to others. Taking action on your vision comes from a deep conviction of the assignment or mission you are embarking on. One good way to know if you have communicated correctly is through the representation of your followers, who, in this case, are your team members or activists.
Consistency deepens impression: If you seek to create an impact in society, it must be hinged on a vision that is shared repeatedly. It should reflect in your work, strategy and approach, and, most importantly, results.
