The Dean, Faculty of Arts, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof Iyabode Nwabueze, has said that the social positioning of women has contributed to issues like female nudism and women’s own complicity in perpetuating their disempowerment.
She stressed that female gender possesses superior intellectual capabilities and stressed the need for women to have equal opportunities to excel in various fields.
She spoke during NOUN’s 27th inaugural lecture titled, ‘The Woman is First Human: The Linguistic Exploration of her Personhood’ at the Conference Centre of the university’s headquarters in Abuja.
The dean, who commenced her lecture by recounting her 50-year academic journey that has significantly influenced her outlook on women’s roles in society, emphasised determination as a driving force throughout her educational pursuit, leading her to become NOUN’s first professor of English.
The lecture explored multifaceted topics related to women’s empowerment, including self-determination, societal stereotypes and linguistic frameworks.
Nwabueze delved into critical discussions surrounding the constructs of femininity, examining how deeply ingrained cultural perceptions affect women’s agency.
By juxtaposing the Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) and Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), she argued that these frameworks inadequately represent women’s realities.
In her sweeping historical overview, she highlighted influential female figures like Queen Amina and Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, noting how colonisation and religious frameworks have historically marginalised women’s voices as she drew connections between language, religion and the societal perception of women, positing that these factors have led to a widespread downgrading of women’s status.
She proposed that a realignment of societal views on women should recognise them first as human beings, inherently deserving of respect and equality.
Her call to action included several recommendations: like NOUN should spearhead gender research, develop more inclusive educational materials and foster environments that empower women in academia and beyond.
The dean also urged religious organisations to reassess practices that undermine women’s dignity and encouraged female politicians to unite for the advancement of women’s representation in governance.
Her message to women resonated with empowerment, urging them to respect themselves and contribute proactively to societal growth.
Earlier, the deputy vice-chancellor, Technology, Innovation and Research (TIR), Prof Godwin Akper, who represented the VC, Prof Olufemi Peters emphasised the role of inaugural lectures as a platform for scholars to present their research contributions as he praised the Faculty of Arts for their intellectual rigour.
Akper expressed gratitude to Nwabueze for her impactful presentation and called upon other seasoned academic staff to embrace similar scholarly responsibilities.
The event was attended by distinguished personalities from inside and outside the NOUN, including members of the inaugural lecturer’s family and officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC), reflecting a broad interest in the lecture’s theme.
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