Rights activist Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello has been honoured with the Leadership in Public Life Award by the Vital Voices Global Partnership.
The event took place at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, United States.
Founder and President of the Children’s Defence Fund Marian Wright Edelman, presented the award to Mrs Abiola-Costello.
Edelman said: “(Abiola-Costello) believes Nigeria needs more than one or two good leaders, it needs a groundswell. And that groundswell must include women. For 20 years, she’s been removing barriers to women’s full participation, fostering a new generation of leaders that’s poised to solve the country’s most urgent issues.”
‘’Through her non-profit, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), Mrs Abiola-Costello is working to remove barriers to women’s political participation and to eliminate violence against women.
‘’Since age 19, she’s been stirring up activism in Nigerians, fuelling movements for democracy, gender equality and women’s leadership.
‘’Her life’s work is a tribute to her parents, who were assassinated for their pro-democracy activism.’’
Abiola-Costello said: “I was 19 when my mother was killed fighting for change in Nigeria. So it was at 19 that I decided to do more than what my society expected. The journey has not been an easy one.”