By Peter Onyekachukwu 
…..Flags Off Male Feminist Network in S-South
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Executive Director of Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI), Amb. (Pst.) Edewor Egedegbe, on Friday, officially flagged off the Male Feminist Network (MFN) for the South-South region, urging men to become allies in promoting gender equality and ending gender-based violence.
Speaking at the event held at the Warri correspondent chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, warri, Delta State, Egedegbe said the initiative, launched in partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), aims to redefine masculinity and inspire men to support women’s empowerment.
He said the movement was born out of a conviction to address deep-rooted inequalities that continue to affect women globally and in Nigeria. According to him, despite progress over the years, women remain marginalized socially, economically, and politically.
“Across the world, women are less likely to have access to social protection, decent work, or financial services. In Nigeria, only 4.7 percent of House of Representatives members and 2.7 percent of Senators are women among the lowest in the world,” Egedegbe stated.
He lamented that Nigeria ranks 130th out of 146 countries in the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, with a maternal mortality rate of 512 deaths per 100,000 live births and high rates of gender-based violence. “These are not just numbers they are lives, families, and futures on the line,” he added.
Egedegbe explained that the Male Feminist Network seeks to build a community of enlightened men who promote gender justice, lead advocacy, and support policies that ensure women and girls live in dignity and equality. “We aim to raise a new generation of male champions who understand that empowering women strengthens families, communities, and nations,” he said.
He called on men from all walks of life to join the movement, emphasizing that gender equality is not a women’s issue but a human one. “Every man has a woman he loves a mother, sister, wife, or daughter. We are calling on men to be protectors, not perpetrators; partners, not oppressors,” he urged.
Egedegbe commended the media, civil society actors, and community leaders for their support, stressing the importance of storytelling and advocacy in sustaining the gender equality movement. “Let us be the generation of men remembered for choosing empathy over ego, respect over dominance, and justice over silence,” he said.
Also speaking, Professor Andrew Agboro, Chairman of the Delta State Civil Society Organisations Forum, highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting gender justice. He said the media can challenge stereotypes, raise awareness on gender issues, and mobilize citizens for change.
Agboro urged journalists to use inclusive language, produce gender-sensitive content, and feature women in diverse roles. He added that media organizations should lead by example by adopting internal codes of ethics and gender policies that promote equality within newsrooms and society.
The event marked the official launch of the Male Feminist Network in the South-South region, with a collective pledge by participants to advance equality, respect, and collaboration between men and women across Nigeria.