Famous Nigerian actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has joined in the fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
He took up the fight after emerging as a key stakeholder in the Male Feminists Network on Friday.
In his remarks in Abuja, the 65-year-old veteran actor, called for more inclusion of women, especially in government.
He said, “Personally, when I did a film two years ago, I had like 80 percent women in the crew. And I always say to people in my profession, if you want to have anything done in government, put a woman in charge, and you can sleep with ‘your eyes closed.’”
He also charged men not to objectify women but to treat them with respect.
“Just give respect to women and treat them like human beings. Or treat them like the way you would treat your daughter or your wife, with respect, with dignity. You know, don’t objectify them, don’t perpetrate violence. Correcting them does not mean hitting and beating them. It is easier to talk to people these days than to just use your fist.”
Speaking on the fight against GBV, RMD urged men to take responsibility for changing harmful attitudes and behaviors, insisting that ending violence against women is not a struggle women should fight alone.
“There are institutionalized and systemic ways that women’s rights are trampled upon in Nigeria, and it is not something only women can fight. We also have to lend our voices to organizations working for women’s rights and against gender-based violence,” he said.
On his part, a public affairs analyst and gender advocate, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said experience has shown that traditional, important personalities and religious leaders can become powerful allies in preventing gender-based violence.