By Felix Khanoba
The Centre for Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement domiciled at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has formally inducted 55 postgraduate students for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Speaking during the ceremony held on Monday at the university’s campus, UniAbuja’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Matthew Adamu, described the event as more than a mere formality, saying it was a reaffirmation of the university’s dedication to advancing gender equality and social justice.
“By choosing Gender Studies for your Ph.D, Master’s, or other programmes, you have aligned yourselves with a field that seeks to understand and transform the social and cultural structures that shape human relations,” Adamu, who represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Academic Matters, Prof. Rhoda Mundi, said.
According to him, Gender Studies remains a vital academic and societal pursuit that expands understanding of how gender intersects with class, ethnicity, religion, and other social identities.
“It challenges us to review norms, policies, and practices that perpetuate inequality and empowers us to design inclusive solutions that promote fairness and opportunity for all,” he added.
While congratulating the new inductees, the Acting Vice Chancellor said UniAbuja’s commitment to gender equality extends beyond teaching and learning.
“It is embedded in our institutional values, research agenda, and partnerships.
“A society cannot attain its full potential if half of its population is held back by discrimination or unequal access to opportunities,” he said.
He noted that although Nigeria’s population is almost evenly split between men and women, representation in decision-making remains largely male-dominated.
“In Nigeria, we know based on the 2006 census that our population is made up of about 50.5% males and 49.5% females — so almost half of the population is female. But when you look at decision-makers — those who take part in decision-making — largely, it is the male population.
The Acting VC called on the new students to give their best in the academic pursuit.
“To our dear inductees, I urge you to approach your studies with diligence, curiosity, and an open mind. The world needs scholars and practitioners who combine academic knowledge with empathy and ethical responsibility,” he said.
“As graduates of this institution—and particularly of this Centre—we expect that you will make a visible impact wherever you go,” he said.
On her part, the Director of the Centre, Dr. Theresa Akpan, disclosed that the 55 inducted students comprise candidates for PhD and Master’s degrees in Gender Studies, Master’s in Social Work, and Postgraduate Diplomas in both Gender Studies and Social Work.
“Gender is not a woman thing. It’s for men and women alike.
“We want society to be balanced, but as it stands, it is not. Everything is tilted to the disadvantage of women. Gender Studies aims to correct that imbalance,” she said.
In her goodwill message, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adama Bello, represented by Hajia Hadiza Chiroma, praised the Centre’s efforts in promoting gender equality, human security, and youth empowerment.
She urged the students to embody integrity, discipline, and service.
“Let this induction mark the beginning of a journey that will not only advance your academic pursuit but also position you to contribute meaningfully to national development and global human security,” Bello said.
Delivering the keynote address, leadership coach Linus Okorie decried the low representation of women in the National Assembly and the persistence of gender inequality and violence in Nigeria.
“Maternal mortality remains one of the highest in the world, with over 52,000 Nigerian women dying each year from preventable pregnancy-related causes,” he lamented.
Okorie urged the inductees to produce quality research capable of addressing gender injustice.
“Let your research not gather dust in the archives. Translate it into practical frameworks that ministries, local governments, and civil society can adopt. Activate it. Let your classroom become design labs for justice—places where ideas are tested,” he charged.
