Across Africa, women continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience, intelligence, and leadership despite the barriers placed before them. From politics and business to education, media, and community development, African women have repeatedly proven that when given opportunities, they excel. Yet for many women, particularly those who challenge deeply rooted social norms and advocate for the rights of women and girls, the journey is often marked by hostility, isolation, and relentless resistance.
As someone who has dedicated much of my life to advocating against the oppression of women, especially within marriages and traditional systems that deny women dignity and autonomy, I know these challenges not as abstract concepts but as lived experiences.
Speaking out
Speaking out as a woman in Northern Nigeria comes with consequences. Advocacy is rarely welcomed when it questions long-standing structures of power. For years, I have endured online bullying, public backlash, insults, character attacks, and attempts to silence my voice simply because I refuse to accept that women should continue to suffer in silence. Instead of engaging with the issues I raise, many choose to attack me personally, hoping intimidation will force me into silence.
It has not.
What many people fail to understand is that the punishment for women who speak out extends beyond social media. It often follows us into our professional lives, affecting our opportunities and our ability to become financially independent.
Financial independence
Financial independence is one of the greatest sources of empowerment for any woman. It provides the freedom to make decisions, leave abusive situations, invest in one’s future, and contribute meaningfully to society. Yet women who openly challenge injustice are often denied this independence.
My own experience reflects this reality. Despite being qualified and capable, securing employment has been an uphill battle. Time and again, opportunities seem to disappear, not because I lack competence, but because my advocacy has made me “difficult” in the eyes of some decision-makers. In an environment where connections often outweigh merit, knowing influential people does not necessarily translate into opportunity. I have had access to individuals in positions of authority who could easily recognize my potential and provide opportunities based on merit. Instead, many have looked away.
Some expected favours or compromises that I was unwilling to make. Others appeared uncomfortable with the idea of supporting a woman whose voice already carries influence. There is an underlying fear that economic independence would amplify my platform, strengthen my advocacy, and make it even harder to dismiss the issues I raise.
Empowering women
This is not simply about me. It reflects a wider challenge faced by many women across Africa who refuse to conform to expectations that they remain quiet, dependent, or invisible. Women who question injustice are often labelled as rebellious, disrespectful, or dangerous rather than courageous and committed to social progress.
At the heart of this resistance lies a broader discomfort with women’s power. In many societies, systems have historically favoured male authority, and when women begin to occupy public spaces, leadership positions, media platforms, or political offices with confidence and independence, they are sometimes perceived as threats rather than partners in nation-building.
Yet history has shown that no society prospers by suppressing half of its population.
The prospects for African women remain incredibly promising, but only if societies intentionally dismantle the barriers that limit women’s participation. More girls must have access to quality education. More women must be appointed based on merit rather than connections or gender stereotypes. Women must have equal opportunities to participate in politics, journalism, entrepreneurship, academia, and leadership. The normalization of women occupying positions of influence is essential if future generations are to grow up believing that leadership belongs to everyone, not just men. Most importantly, we need more women who refuse to give up.
Pushing forward
We need women who will continue speaking despite criticism, continue applying despite rejection, continue leading despite resistance, and continue advocating despite intimidation. Every woman who persists makes it easier for another woman to step forward. Every barrier broken becomes a pathway for those who follow.
Progress is rarely achieved by those who remain comfortable. It is achieved by those willing to endure discomfort in pursuit of justice.
I know that my journey has not been easy, and I do not expect it to become easier simply because I remain committed to my cause. But I also know that meaningful change has always required people willing to bear the cost of challenging injustice. I am too passionate about what I do to ever quit.
I will continue to push forward, even knowing that I may not witness the complete transformation I dream of within my lifetime. Real social change often spans generations. Yet I am certain that every conversation started, every woman encouraged, every injustice challenged, and every voice amplified contributes to a future where women are treated with the dignity, equality, and respect they deserve.
I firmly believe that one day, my work will be remembered as part of the collective effort that helped bring an end to the oppression of women in Nigeria and, ultimately, across Africa.
Until then, I will keep showing up.
Because silence has never changed the world, courage has.
By Lubna Saleh Michika
