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Who we are

We define and name ourselves publicly as feminists because we celebrate our feminist identities and politics. We recognize that the work of fighting for women’s rights is deeply political, and the process of naming is political too. Choosing to name ourselves Feminist places us in a clear ideological position.

By naming ourselves as Feminists we politicize the struggle for women’s rights, we question the legitimacy of the structures that keep women subjugated, and we develop tools for transformatory analysis and action. We have multiple and varied identities as African Feminists. We are African women – we live here in Africa and even when we live elsewhere, our focus is on the lives of African women on the continent. Our feminist identity is not qualified with `Ifs`, `Buts’, or `However’. We are Feminists.

The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) has been years in the making. In 2005 at AWID International Forum, Nigerian feminists present agreed to make the NFF a priority. This was taken a step further in 2006. From 25-27 January 2008, in Abuja Nigeria, the inaugural of the Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF), themed ‘Repositioning ourselves, transforming lives’, convened Nigerian feminists from the six geo-political zones and the Diaspora.

This was organised by a Steering Committee, which consisted of women of diverse identities, locations, professions, expertise and generations, the forum offered a space for reflection and dialogue on the challenges facing the Nigerian women’s movement, feminist activists and researchers. Alliances for Africa (AfA) and BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, two foremost non-governmental organisations dedicated to the improvement of the status of women in Nigeria co-hosted the NFF.

Our Core Areas

What We Do

The Nigerian feminist forum takes a holistic approach to women’s human rights with a focus on equality of sexes and freedom of choice. Advocating for legal frameworks that guarantees access to sexual and reproductive health rights, reproductive freedom, challenging patriarchy, stereotypes and discrimination and ending violence against women and girls

The Nigerian Feminist Forum works around ending violence against women with a clear understanding of
its forms and complexities in Nigeria, taking up campaigns and advocacy to end;  domestic violence,
sexual assault violence, hate crimes across lines of gender, victimization of survivors of violence and all
forms of discriminatory treatment.

The Nigerian Feminist Forum advocates for access to safe and legal abortion, to effective birth control
and emergency contraception, as well as to reproductive health services and education for all Nigerian
women.

Patriarchy has manifested itself in the social, legal, political, religious, and economic organization of a range of different cultures across Nigeria. The Nigerian Feminist Forum is keen on sensitizing societies on the impact of patriarchy and male dominance to bridge the gap between patriarchy and
women’s life chances of stepping ahead and out of restriction.

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