Lokoja: Prof. Maria Ofure, a Literature Professor at Federal University Lokoja (FUL), has called on women to engage more actively in literary writing to help transform society and gain importance. She made the appeal during the university’s 27th Inaugural Lecture titled ‘Navigating a Room of Her Own: Women’s Writing, Dynamics of Culture and the Politics of Identity,’ on Thursday in Lokoja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ofure explained that creating ‘a room of her own’ for women was not just about having physical or economic space to write, but also about claiming cultural, intellectual, and emotional space in a world that often ignored or limited them. She emphasized that the room women seek is not merely a private place, but a space to speak out against traditions and norms that hold them back, whether on a stage, in a classroom, or in parliament. It is a space to act and bring change. Women writers and scholars should write to reclaim their rights and demand equal opportunities with men.
Ofure added that African women writers today were not only asking for space but were actively shaping it with stories that crossed time, language, and cultures. Women are taking center stage, showing their full creative potential. She described literature as both a mirror and a tool for change, reflecting real life and reshaping society’s views. She also noted the new chances women had through social media, blogs, and self-publishing to share their stories outside traditional limits. While these platforms have risks like online harassment, they also offer powerful ways to connect and influence culture.
The professor said that literature had helped to bring important issues like abortion rights, gender-based violence, and queer rights into public discussion. Ofure also lauded groups like Writivism, Femrite, and the African Women’s Development Fund for supporting women writers and building lasting communities for growth.
Earlier, FUL Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi described the lecture as very timely and important. He said it would help Nigerians better understand how women used writing to express themselves and challenge traditions. He congratulated Ofure on delivering a lecture of great value.