How Best To Immortalise Kudirat Abiola

The Executive Director of Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, Amy Oyekunle, has said that that the best way Nigerians could genuinely immortalise the late heroine of democracy, Kudirat Abiola, is to ensure that the principles and values behind her sacrifice for the nation’s democracy is not allowed to be in vain.

Oyekunle said this on the occasion of the 16th memorial anniversary of the late Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential elections.

According to her “last year, KIND held a fundraiser for the construction of the Kudirat Abiola Women’s Centre as a way to cultivate her spirit of selfless service across Nigeria. This is in response to the desire of the Nigerian women to partner with men in nation-building, and expand KIND’s ability to promote women and girls seeking to contribute their quota to democracy and nation-building.

‘While acknowledging the support of Nigerians who rose to the occasion with their generous support, we are using the opportunity of the 16th memorial anniversary of Kudirat to appeal to Nigerians to support this noble effort towards honouring a deserving hero, and help KIND in its desire to ensure that women contribute their quota to our nation-building efforts.

‘Particularly, we want this anniversary to be a reminder for all those who have pledged support but are yet to redeem it that we have a duty to posterity to play a credible role in building institutions, strengthening a leadership formation process for women, the essential purpose of KIND’s work which will serve our democracy and foster sustainable development.

Speaking further, Oyekunle said, “KIND is grateful to Vital Voices Global Partnership – an organisation founded by Hillary Clinton – for their offer and commitment to partner with us to establish a museum, the first of its kind in Nigeria, dedicated to honouring and celebrating our heroines’ at the Centre.

“Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND, was founded 15 years ago by Hafsat Abiola in honour of the memory of her mother, the late Kudirat Abiola, who was assassinated on 4 June, 1996, for her role in the revalidation of the mandate given to her husband, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, in the June 12, 1993 presidential elections.

“So far, KIND has trained over 3,000 young women in Anambra, Borno, Cross River, Lagos, Ogun and Plateau States in service leadership since 2001. It has developed the capacity of grassroots female politicians, raised awareness across the society about gender-based violence and supported organizations who work with victims through proceeds from its annual staging of V-Monologues, an adapted version of international award winning play on domestic violence.”

By Jamiu Yisa