Kehinde Ola-Oni: Championing Women’s Role in Nigeria’s Pro-Democracy Movement
Kehinde Ola-Oni was a leading leftist activist who fought for women’s political rights in Nigeria. Born in Ibadan in 1943, she first witnessed how women were used in campaigns but never emerged as leaders. In 1992, she joined Women in Nigeria (WIN) as Oyo State coordinator and national membership secretary. Under her guidance, WIN held workshops and public discussions to challenge tokenism and boost women’s participation. After two terms with WIN, Kehinde founded the Action of Women in Nigeria (TAWN) to bring political education to the grassroots. TAWN taught market women and local leaders about their rights and how to identify and support capable candidates. Partnerships with development groups and insights from the Fourth World Conference on Women shaped their research and methods. Grounded in a Marxist feminist outlook, Kehinde acknowledged financial barriers and social expectations facing women. She led candid debates on rivalry and fragmentation within the women’s movement. Her belief was clear: without trust and collective backing, even the most capable women struggle to succeed.
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