Veteran Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has strongly criticized the unfair treatment of women in Nigeria, condemning both societal attitudes and outdated laws that continue to discriminate against women.
In a recent interview, Henshaw referenced the biblical story of creation, emphasizing that women were meant to be equal partners with men, not to be viewed as less important. She pointed out that over time, this message has been distorted by culture, religion, and legislation, resulting in a society where women are often treated unfairly and unequally.
Henshaw highlighted specific laws in Nigeria that she believes institutionalize discrimination. For instance, she mentioned citizenship provisions that favour foreign women married to Nigerian men while denying the same rights to foreign men married to Nigerian women.
She also expressed concern about aspects of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, which allows a man to “reasonably chastise” his wife. Henshaw asserted that such laws support domestic violence and should be abolished.
She stated, “God created man and woman. He created the man first, no doubt. Even pastors and churches contribute to this issue. He (God) brought the woman from the side, not from the head to rule over the man or from beneath to be considered inferior, but beside him, to reign together, be fruitful, multiply, raise children, and grow together. However, many Nigerian men see women as less than human, which is evident when you leave Nigeria and see how women are treated elsewhere.”
She further stated, “You see us as lesser beings…even our laws, like the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, favour men. A man is allowed to reasonably chastise his wife. Why is that? A man who marries a foreign woman can easily obtain a passport for her, but a woman who marries a foreign man must go through numerous complications to secure the same passport for her husband in Nigeria. So what are we really talking about?”