As part of her efforts to redefine gender equality and promote transformative leadership in Nigeria, the executive director of HEIR Women Hub (HWH), Anuli Aniebo, has earned a Masters degree in Gender Studies from the prestigious School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Aniebo, who also advocates for economic justice revealed that this academic achievement equips her with fresh perspectives and strategies to advance the inclusion of young women in leadership and decision-making spaces.
Reflecting on her academic journey, Aniebo described how the rigorous coursework and global exposure at SOAS deepened her understanding of the unique challenges surrounding gender and leadership.
“My experience provided access to historical contexts and deeper insight into the limitations in representation that we all face. It reshaped my mindset and enhanced my ability to intervene in situations differently by drawing from intellectual discourse by scholars across African academia,” she stated.
Aniebo emphasized her commitment to reimagining leadership systems that often exclude young women and girls from positions of influence. She noted that her studies sharpened her awareness of how entrenched ideologies and binary identity constructs shape societal structures—especially in Nigeria.
“The interpretation of such ideologies still informs the way we practice leadership in our country, through both structures and institutions of power,” she added.
According to the statement, her newly gained knowledge is far from theoretical—it underpins her work at HEIR Women Hub, a youth-led organization championing gender equity and leadership access for young women. Under her leadership, and with the current support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the organization has spent over five years advocating against workplace sexual harassment and generating impactful data.
“Our findings show that over 52% of young women—three in five—have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace,” Aniebo revealed. “We’re now examining the availability and implementation of sexual harassment policies across organisations, starting with the FCT.”