It’s time to review Nigeria’s anti-gay laws, Presidential hopeful says
Nigerian 2023 presidential aspirant Dorathy Aken’ova says that Nigeria needs to reconsider its laws that discriminate against LGBTIQ+ people.
Dorathy Aken’ova is a Nigerian feminist and activist with decades of commitment to protecting and advancing the rights of vulnerable and marginalized communities in Nigeria.
On a new episode of the Nostrings Podcast hosted by Mike Daemon, Aken’ova spoke candidly about her political aspirations, her work, and also about what needs to be done to ensure the human rights protection of LGBTIQ+ Nigerians.
This is the first time a Nigerian presidential aspirant has spoken openly and positively about the need to review the country’s anti-gay laws, since The Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was signed into law by ex-Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
“I believe that we are all born equal in rights and dignity, nothing will ever change that principle,” Aken’ova says. “It’s a principle, it’s a value, a core value, now our Constitution, you know we now have laws that are anti-discrimination. This is time for Nigerians to begin to revisit those laws. We are a signatory as a Nation to conventions and treaties on human rights mostly with no reservations as far as I remember.”
The podcast conversation also explored various human rights issues such as gender equality, law reforms and equal access to justice.
Listen below or download podcast.
