Olufunmilayo Balogun
Nigeria
I am inspired by the possibility of change in the future, by women, who have achieved a lot
and opened up spaces, by women who work day in and out without complaining under hideous
conditions and most of all, I am inspired by Africa and the promise it holds.
I am currently the Director, External Relations and Advocacy to the International
Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Regional Office in Nairobi. My role is to
build and strengthen partnerships with multilateral and bilateral organisations
and in particular, the African Union and Regional Economic Commissions
to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights remain key priority
issues within development discourse both in Africa and at the global level.
I am responsible for communicating the work of IPPF and its 42 Member
Associations in 42 countries in Sub-Saharan African and building relationships
with donors to increase funding to expand IPPF’s service provision.
I call myself a feminist because I see that patriarchy bestows an unfair
advantage to men, working from the premise that men are latently superior to
women. I understand that this is the premise that guides all institutions, policies,
laws and relationships, and that it puts women at a disadvantage.
The inability of women t