Complications from surgery have claimed about the most enthusiastic activist in Nigeria. Barrister Esther Uzoma died in Abuja Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. Never ever seen to be wearing a worrying face, she was at the time of her death, a Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room as well as the National Coordinator of Proactive Gender Initiative, (PGI).
Barrister Uzoma on the right with two others
Second from the right in the midst of many other gender warriors
More popularly known and called ‘Barrister’, she appeared to be able to get along with just about everyone as far as civil society activism went.
A statement by Asma’u Joda and Celestine Okwudili Odo, Co-conveners of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room describes the deceased as very energetic and a committed human rights and gender activist who had been in the forefront of driving Nigeria’s democratic reforms. Made up of civil society organisations (CSOs) said to number more than seventy, the Situation Room is actually Nigeria’s electoral norm entrepreneur – in – chief although it prefers to name itself as those working in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria.
Barrister Esther Uzoma has been an outspoken activist, particularly on the theme of “Preventing and Ending Violence against Women and all forms of Gender-Based Violence/open impunity as a Civic and Leadership Responsibility”. She has also been quoted as saying she had seen the evils of patriarchy but the details are still so sketchy about the nature of that encounter, whether it came from experience, academic training or political orientation or a combination.
Some sources put her last public appearance to a December 2020 date, suggesting that she most likely had no premonitions of death.
Those saying she would be greatly missed by all who came in contact with her could say that again. Details of burial arrangements are being expected from the family.
