NOUN Dean, Prof. Nwabueze, Advocates for Women's Empowerment in 27th Inaugural Lecture

The Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Iyabode O.A. Nwabueze, has called for a societal shift in the perception of women, emphasizing their humanity and equal intellectual potential to men. She made this assertion during NOUN’s 27th inaugural lecture, titled “The Woman is First Human: The Linguistic Exploration of Her Personhood”, delivered on September 5, 2024, at the university’s Conference Centre in Abuja.

In her thought-provoking lecture, Prof. Nwabueze linked women’s social positioning to issues such as female nudism and their complicity in perpetuating disempowerment. She stressed the importance of providing women with equal opportunities to excel across various fields, arguing that no gender possesses inherently superior intellectual abilities.Recounting her 50-year academic journey, Nwabueze reflected on how determination shaped her career, culminating in her achievement as NOUN’s first Professor of English. She explored the historical and linguistic dimensions of women's empowerment, delving into how cultural perceptions and linguistic frameworks, such as Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) and Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), fail to accurately capture the realities of women’s lives.

Through the lecture, Nwabueze also examined the effects of colonisation and religion on the marginalisation of women's voices, highlighting historical female figures like Queen Amina and Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as examples of resistance to these societal limitations. She emphasized the need for society to realign its views and recognize women primarily as human beings deserving of respect and equality.

The professor urged NOUN to spearhead gender research and develop more inclusive educational materials. She also called on religious institutions to reassess practices that undermine women's dignity and encouraged female politicians to unite in advancing women's representation in governance.Prof. Nwabueze’s message resonated with empowerment, challenging women to respect themselves and contribute proactively to societal growth. Closing her lecture, she reiterated the importance of acknowledging women as equals in both discourse and linguistics.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Technology, Innovation, and Research, Prof. Godwin Akper, representing Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olufemi Peters, underscored the significance of inaugural lectures as platforms for scholars to present their research contributions. He commended Nwabueze's lecture and called for further academic engagement from NOUN’s faculty.

The event drew a wide range of attendees, including family members, officials from the National Universities Commission (NUC), and dignitaries from outside NOUN, demonstrating broad interest in the lecture's timely theme of gender equality.

Prof. Nwabueze’s inaugural lecture has sparked fresh dialogue on gender issues, setting the stage for future academic discussions and reaffirming NOUN’s commitment to progressive policies in the educational sector.