“Even though I’m a woman rights activist…the man is supposed to be a step ahead of the woman” – Noll
The issue of gender equality has been a huge issue in Nigeria for quite some time but things escalated when the Senate turned down the Equal Opportunity Bill a couple of weeks ago.
Speaking with New Telegraph in a new interview, Nollywood actress Foluke Daramola shares her views on all things gender equality while also talking about her marriage, her husband and more.
See excerpts below.
On gender equality: I’m sorry I don’t think men and women should have equal rights in this case. I think the male should have more than the female, but it should be with proportion, maybe on a ratio of 60 to 40. The reason why I think so is because we women tend to be extremely domineering when it comes to issues and sometimes sentimental. Men can be detailed even though we are sometimes.
So, there are proportions in all these things. The role of a man can never be over emphasized. Even though I’m a woman rights activist, I still believe in the place of a woman and a man. The man is supposed to be a step ahead of the woman; you can never take that away.
On her marriage: For documentation purpose, we needed to because of the necessity that was going on around bank BVN and all that, and because I run a foundation, there are a whole lot of places that I will go to, that I need to establish the fact that I am a married woman.
They don’t recognise traditional marriages abroad, you have to be legally married to your husband. And for us, we needed to document our marriage. It didn’t add or subtract anything from who we are.
My husband and I have been good friends and good lovers. We dated and we are still dating. It’s a continuous thing, its not like we don’t fight or have issues, it just makes up the fact that we understand each other as best friends and we know that each step of the way, we take it as it comes and we believe that at the end of the day, we have to make the marriage work.
On her husband: One, he is a highly intelligent young man. Two, he has a very wonderful heart, and three, he is very generous.
On her style: I’m a casual person, I love it simple and down to earth. I used to be a thumb-boy; when I was much younger, you will find me more i n my jeans.
I’m actually not a fashion freak because I’m a contented person and I don’t hunger for what I cannot afford. I live my life the way I can afford to. I don’t do beyond myself.
