NIGERIAN superstar entertainer, Dapo Oyebanjo, aka D’banj has lent his voice to ONE Campaign’s Call for Global Gender Equality. The artiste spoke in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day, urging world leaders to act on promises to end extreme poverty faster by investing in girls and women.
According to the Pop star, it will be pleasant if more girls had the chance to grow up to be empowered women, where all women went to school and were not forced into early marriage.
“Extreme poverty is choking the potential of generations of young women in the developing world. Poverty is sexist. It hits girls and women harder than it does boys and men, creating a real urgency which world leaders must address. Women need to be better empowered, especially in areas such as agriculture and healthcare, so that they can contribute their best to the development of Nigeria. Women need better access to land, inputs, and better maternal healthcare, among others. That’s why I’m raising my voice and asking others to do the same,” D’banj said.
Other influential figures who added their voices to the campaign are Oprah Winfrey, Muhammad Ali, Melinda Gates, Femi Kuti, Charlize Theron, Yemi Alade, and Bono among others.
Selmor Mtukudzi, Vanessa Mdee, Victoria Kimani, Amy Poehler, Danai Gurira, Angelique Kidjo, Shonda Rhimes, Jessie J, Colin Farrell and Robert Redford have also signed ONE’s open letter which shows the incredible strength of feeling across the global community for leaders to step up for girls and women everywhere.
Popular singer, Yemi Alade also added her voice and gave reasons why she is supporting the campaign.
“We live in a world where women and girls are most disadvantaged by extreme poverty – on a continent where women and girls are particularly marginalised – socially, economically and legally. Every day, in every corner of the world, they are stopped from reaching their full potential. That is why I was part of ONE’s Strong Girl campaign and that is why I continue to join other leaders to raise my voice today,” said Alade.