Thirty Years After Beijing: Joy Ezeilo Moderates As Diplomacy, Activism And Law Converge On Gender Equality Session

The Nigerian Bar Association will spotlight global voices at the “Thirty Years After Beijing” session on August 25 in Enugu.

The panel will revisit the 1995 Beijing Declaration, a turning point for GENDER EQUALITY, assessing three decades of progress and challenges.

Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, OON, will moderate the session. She is a feminist activist, Senior Advocate, and Professor of Law. She founded WACOL and Tamar Sexual Assault Centre. She also pioneered “Women, Children & the Law” in Nigerian legal studies. Ezeilo served as UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking from 2008–2014, shaping global anti-trafficking policies. She has received national and international honours. Her unmatched expertise ensures that the session delivers reflections and practical strategies to advance women’s rights.

Mrs. Gill Lever OBE, British Deputy High Commissioner, will bring a diplomatic lens to the session. She has served in India, Japan, and Romania. She was awarded the OBE in 2021 for her COVID-19 welfare service. She has also championed women’s initiatives in Vietnam. Lever’s career covers peacekeeping, health, and welfare in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. She remains committed to humanitarian causes. Her insights will bridge diplomacy, global frameworks, and GENDER EQUALITY reforms across nations.

Aisha Yesufu, a fearless activist will join the panel. She co-founded the #BringBackOurGirls movement and played a key role in End SARS. Her activism emphasises systemic reform, accountability, and inclusive governance. She is globally recognised for defending citizens’ rights and women’s empowerment. Yesufu will push the conversation from lofty declarations to practical, lived changes that empower women.

Prof. Obijiofor Aginam, a Director at UNESCO MGIEP will contribute a global perspective. He has also worked with the UN and WHO. Aginam’s scholarship spans international law, governance, and peace education. His leadership emphasises sustainability and human rights in global education systems. At the NBA panel, he will highlight how inclusive education drives GENDER EQUALITY and strengthens governance.

Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative, brings 35 years of gender advocacy. She leads UN Women’s work in Nigeria and ECOWAS. Her leadership has expanded women’s political participation, promoted gender-responsive governance, and driven reforms to fight violence against women. Eyong’s contribution will connect regional realities with international strategies for advancing BEIJING goals in West Africa.

Prof. Ebenezer Durojaye, a leading human rights scholar, will also speak. He leads the Socio-Economic Rights Project at Dullah Omar Institute. Durojaye has published widely on reproductive health, gender justice, and constitutional protections. His work challenges systemic barriers to women’s rights. At NBA AGC 2025, he will argue for stronger legal frameworks to achieve substantive equality.

Together, the panel promises robust dialogue on BEIJING’s enduring legacy and the urgent pursuit of GENDER EQUALITY in Nigeria and beyond.