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Bene Madunagu, Nigeria
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| Photo by Madeline Djerejian |
"Feminism is about politics; it's about gender; it's about poverty. When you achieve the vision of feminism, you really achieve the vision of a just society. As long as young women are able to internalize the message of gender equality and act on it, the future is brighter. It makes a big difference in their lives, and we're building a movement."
About Bene
Since founding the feminist group, Women in Nigeria, in 1982, Bene Madunagu has become an internationally respected advocate for women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Seeking a new strategy to achieve her goal of women's political and social empowerment, Bene cofounded the Girls' Power Initiative (GPI) with Grace Osakue in 1993. GPI's comprehensive approach to sexuality education builds self-esteem and provides girls with the skills and knowledge they need to negotiate mutually respectful and responsible relationships. In 1995, Bene, who has a PhD in Botany, received an award from the MacArthur Foundation Fund for Leadership Development. In 2004, she became the general coordinator of DAWN (Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era), a network of women scholars and activists from the economic South who are committed to working for economic justice, gender justice, and democracy.
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