A Movement for the recognition of OMOWUMI OGUNROTIMI, a 2018 Commonwealth Winner who sacrificed staying back for her awards and a chance to meet the Queen of England for urgent advocacy and family related issues by the Office of the President of Nigeria

#GenderMobile4Recognition #WumiOgunrotimi4Recognition #Wumi2018CommonwealthWinner

The choices we make in life either break us or make us...what can we say of the choice Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi made in letting go of days which could have been glamorous, memorable and open doors to being in the same room with the Queen of England and other honorable high ranked dignitaries from over the world in UK.

I am penning this down so it could get to the right office of operations and the bodies involved, this is a movement for the Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi to be recognized by the Office of the President of Nigeria.

Miss Omowunmi Ogunrotimi beats the statement of controversy made by President of Nigeria, Mohammed Buhari at the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Awards Event. This young lady, a versatile Nigerian youth would have been in the same gathering as the President if she had not opted to make a sacrifice of such event to come back home to make a difference in an urgent family and advocacy related matter for young girls and women in her community.

The question is 'Would the President of Nigeria had made such a controversial statement if Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi had stayed back in the state of emergency for change to receive her grant and award?'

Dear President Mohammed Buhari,

Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi, was shortlisted for the 2018 Commonwealth Youth Awards as the only Nigerian in recognition of her contribution towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 5, gender equality, in Nigeria.

Omowumi is the founder of Gender Mobile, which aims to increase the reportage of, and reduce the incidence of, gender-based violence through coordination of linked services.

This remarkable platform also works to provide survivors with information, referrals, assistance and longer-term help to close the gap in service delivery through creative use of technology.

This young lady had sworn her dedication to gender equality related issues way back her secondary school days after losing her best friend, a victim of rape who got pregnant and died without speaking up until it was too late to help. Attaining the age to make a difference in her own little way, she founded an online platform for the cause 'Gender Mobile'.

This is a Nigerian youth who did not forget where she was coming from, what she had gone through emotionally and physically and despite all odds made use of a simple platform to make a huge differences in saving lives of young Nigerian girls and women by adding value to her community. Could that be a lazy Nigerian Youth?

We both missed the opportunity of attending and speaking at the African Women Summit as delegates due to our cause in advocacy related matters which made our paths crossed. As we related, I could not help hiding my tears as she referred back to the email she received questioning her decision of coming back to Nigeria to sacrificing the opportunity of meeting Queen Elizabeth and other dignitaries, a chance most dignitaries in Nigeria lobby for and a chance that could have paved more recognition and connection if present at the occasion in person.

I can recall her facial expression when she turned to me 'Do you think I made the right decision?', she asked and a hug i gave 'You made a sacrifice being here for a cause, a more deserving opportunity to meet the Queen of England once more will present itself  at the most important time by his grace', I answered.

Also of recent, she was honoured as a Riseup Leader on the RiseUp Leadership Accelerator programme, this in accord confirms Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi as a young vibrant and hardworking leader paving way for greater development for other young girls and women in our country.

Dear Omowumi Omalicha as I tagged you, I know you would be surprised at this call for movement of recognition for you however its the little medium I can use to pitch a voice for you, you showed me strength in despair.

Dear President of Nigeria, Omowumi Ogunrotimi represents the faces of many Nigerian youths engaging in remarkable movement of development for our country, Nigeria despite the situation of the economy not favouring us, we,the youths in our little efforts strive to make changes without a salary to our name.

All we need is an avenue of support and not controversy.

Omowumi Ogunrotimi can be reached via wumi@gendermobile.org

Read more on her initiative Gender Mobile

For support towards Gender Mobile, send an email to wumi@gendermobile.org

I beckon on all Nigerian Youths to repost and broadcast till Miss Omowumi Ogunrotimi is recognised by the office of the President for her sacrifice.

A saying goes "Silver or gold I have non but what I have, give I thee"...

#GenderMobile4Recognition #WumiOgunrotimi4Recognition #Wumi2018CommonwealthWinner