Opinion
Nobel Award And African Women
Few weeks ago the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to three outstanding female activists, Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia and Tawakul Karman of Yemen for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.
Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, who in a time of devastating war, headed the Liberian peace protest organisation Women for Peace, that began with singing and praying in a fish market and ended in forcing President Charles Taylor to peace talks in Ghana and ultimately the establishment of a peace agreement.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, on her own part became the first female president not only in Liberia, but in all Africa in 2005, following the work of women for peace in ending the war in Liberia. She took over a nation in deep poverty still struggling to recover from civil War. She has since fought tirelessly to restore equality, justice and hope to her nation.
Tawakul Karman of Yemen, accoring to reports was responsible for bringing thousands of Yemenis to the streets to protest for democracy and created a human rights advocacy group called Women Journalists without Chains in 2005 and continues to regularly lead anti- government demonstrations and sit-ins.
It is interesting to note that the activities of these three noble women, through the organisation of a peace movement brought to an end the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003 that led to the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the Liberia president and making it possible for Africa to produce the first female president.
Women are often at the center of non- governmental organisations (NGGs), popular protests, electoral referendums, and other citizen empowering movements whose influence has grown with the global spread of democracy.
Peace, according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is a state of harmony characterised by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the establishment of equality, and a working political order that serves the true interests of all. In international relations, peacetime is not only the absence of war or conflict, but also the presence of cultural and economic understanding and unity. There is also a sense of tolerance in international relations for the realisation of true peace
Consequently, in almost all the cultures of Africa, peace was equated with ‘freshness’, health, well being, harmony, calm and tranquility. The absence of such qualities was seen as the sign of conflicts, which could be either latent or overt.
It is sad that women are rarely the perpetrators of violence yet they suffer its devastating impact and share responsibility for ending violent human conflict, but fortunately a lot of women have come together to denounce violent aggression and advocate global peace through nonviolent conflict resolution.
There is no doubt that these three outstanding women have inspired other African women which is why the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ Rivers State Chapter have joined other well-meaning individuals and organisations to hail the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to three women activists
The award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 to three courageous women has sparked an outpouring of praise and gratification from global leaders and prominent supporters of women’s rights who described the prize as an important acknowledgement ofwomen’s key role in peace-building.
The President of United States, Barrack Obama in a congratulatory statement said, “Today’s award honors three extraordinary individuals, and sends a powerful message that the struggle for universal rights and human dignity can only be fulfilled with the full participation of women around the globe.
Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also congratulated the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf and her compatriot and peace advocate, Lehmaa Gbowee, for winning the much coveted Nobel Peace prize.
He said although the recognition of the effort of these women ought to have come much earlier, the fact that their efforts had inspired others to pursue peace, freedom and justice against all odds and never to give up even at the cost of personal sacrifice, was quite encouraging
According to the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the “unflinching courage, strength and leadership of these women to build peace, advance reconciliation and defend the rights of fellow citizens in their own countries provide inspiration for women’s rights and human progress everywhere.”
While Executive Director United Nations Women, Michelle Bachelet, on her own part said “This year’s Nobel Peace Prize is an important acknowledgement of what women have been demanding for years: the equal involvement of women in all peace, security and democracy decisions. Women’s involvement is central for achieving lasting peace and stability and yet, too often, they are excluded from the negotiating table. UN Women stand beside women around the world who are demanding that their voices be heard and they have equal participation in decision-making.”
In a statement by the Chairman of NAWOJ , Miss Enale Kodu, the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize joint winners Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Tawakkul Karman, and Leymah Gbowee , the recipients demonstrate the vital role that women play in advancing peace and security, boosting development and securing human rights around the globe.
Miss Kodu said, the award could not have been better chosen, explaining that it underscores the vital role that women play in the advancement of peace and security, development and human rights.
She noted that women are rarely the perpetrators of violence yet they suffer its devastating impact and share responsibility for ending violent human conflict and called on women to emulate these three activists.
The NAWOJ Chairman described the winners as “three inspirational women of uncommon courage and commitment” and reaffirmed that promoting the cause of women, especially those in the rural areas is a top priority of the Association.
The peace award is an opener to all women, especially Nigerian women to always rise up to their responsibility of bringing lasting peace to the country.
Tubosia writes from Port Harcourt.
Ijeoma Tubosia
From all indications, Nigeria possesses enough human and material resources to become a true economic powerhouse in Africa. According to the National Population Commission (NPC, 2023), the country’s population has grown steadily within the last decade, presently standing at about 220 million people—mostly young, vibrant, and innovative. Nigeria also remains the sixth-largest oil producer in the world, with enormous reserves of gas, fertile agricultural land, and human capital.
Yet, despite this enormous potential, the country continues to grapple with underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity. Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS, 2023) show that about 129 million Nigerians currently live below the poverty line. Most families can no longer afford basic necessities, even as the government continues to project a rosy economic picture.
The Subsidy Question
The removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been one of the most controversial policy decisions in Nigeria’s recent history. According to the president, subsidy removal was designed to reduce fiscal burden, unify the foreign exchange rate, attract investment, curb inflation, and discourage excessive government borrowing.
While these objectives are theoretically sound, the reality for ordinary Nigerians has been severe hardship. Fuel prices more than tripled, transportation costs surged, and food inflation—already high—rose above 30% (NBS, 2023). The World Bank (2023) estimates that an additional 7.1 million Nigerians were pushed into poverty after subsidy removal.
A Critical Economic View
As an economist, I argue that the problem was not subsidy removal itself—which was inevitable—but the timing, sequencing, and structural gaps in Nigeria’s implementation.
- Structural Miscalculation
Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries remain nonfunctional. By removing subsidies without local refining capacity, the government exposed the economy to import-price pass-through effects—where global oil price shocks translate directly into domestic inflation. This was not just a timing issue but a fundamental policy miscalculation.
- Neglect of Social Safety Nets
Countries like Indonesia (2005) and Ghana (2005) removed subsidies successfully only after introducing cash transfers, transport vouchers, and food subsidies for the poor (World Bank, 2005). Nigeria, however, implemented removal abruptly, shifting the fiscal burden directly onto households without protection.
- Failure to Secure Food and Energy Alternatives
Fuel subsidy removal amplified existing weaknesses in agriculture and energy. Instead of sequencing reforms, government left Nigerians without refinery capacity, renewable energy alternatives, or mechanized agricultural productivity—all of which could have cushioned the shock.
Political and Public Concerns
Prominent leaders have echoed these concerns. Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the subsidy removal as “good but wrongly timed.” Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party also faulted the government’s hasty approach. Human rights activists like Obodoekwe Stive stressed that refineries should have been made functional first, to reduce the suffering of citizens.
This is not just political rhetoric—it reflects a widespread economic reality. When inflation climbs above 30%, when purchasing power collapses, and when households cannot meet basic needs, the promise of reform becomes overshadowed by social pain.
Broader Implications
The consequences of this policy are multidimensional:
- Inflationary Pressures – Food inflation above 30% has made nutrition unaffordable for many households.
- Rising Poverty – 7.1 million Nigerians have been newly pushed into poverty (World Bank, 2023).
- Middle-Class Erosion – Rising transport, rent, and healthcare costs are squeezing household incomes.
- Debt Concerns – Despite promises, government borrowing has continued, raising sustainability questions.
- Public Distrust – When government promises savings but citizens feel only pain, trust in leadership erodes.
In effect, subsidy removal without structural readiness has widened inequality and eroded social stability.
Missed Opportunities
Nigeria’s leaders had the chance to approach subsidy removal differently:
- Refinery Rehabilitation – Ensuring local refining to reduce exposure to global oil price shocks.
- Renewable Energy Investment – Diversifying energy through solar, hydro, and wind to reduce reliance on imported petroleum.
- Agricultural Productivity – Mechanization, irrigation, and smallholder financing could have boosted food supply and stabilized prices.
- Social Safety Nets – Conditional cash transfers, food vouchers, and transport subsidies could have protected the most vulnerable.
Instead, reform came abruptly, leaving citizens to absorb all the pain while waiting for theoretical long-term benefits.
Conclusion: Reform With a Human Face
Fuel subsidy removal was inevitable, but Nigeria’s approach has worsened hardship for millions. True reform must go beyond fiscal savings to protect citizens.
Economic policy is not judged only by its efficiency but by its humanity. A well-sequenced reform could have balanced fiscal responsibility with equity, ensuring that ordinary Nigerians were not crushed under the weight of sudden change.
Nigeria has the resources, population, and resilience to lead Africa’s economy. But leadership requires foresight. It requires policies that are inclusive, humane, and strategically sequenced.
Reform without equity is displacement of poverty, not development. If Nigeria truly seeks progress, its policies must wear a human face.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2023). Poverty and Inequality Report. Abuja.
- National Population Commission (NPC). (2023). Population Estimates. Abuja.
- World Bank. (2023). Nigeria Development Update. Washington, DC.
- World Bank. (2005). Fuel Subsidy Reforms: Lessons from Indonesia and Ghana. Washington, DC.
- OPEC. (2023). Annual Statistical Bulletin. Vienna.
By: Amarachi Amaugo