The Nigerian singer and renowned humanitarian, Waje, participated in the 6th Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum Conference held in Abuja. This important event convened the wives of state governors, key policymakers, international development partners, and social advocates to discuss critical national priorities, including healthcare, education, youth development, social welfare, and women’s empowerment.
As a long-time advocate for the rights of women and youth, Waje contributed significantly to the dialogue focused on how societal influencers can shape public culture and foster meaningful, positive change. She stressed that social outcomes are determined not just by official policies and organized programs, but also by the daily attitudes and behaviors promoted both online and offline.
She specifically focused her remarks on the responsibility held by male public figures. Waje asserted, “Male influencers and content creators possess greater power than they often acknowledge.” She highlighted that the first step is to be conscious of what they normalize—the language they use, the jokes they find acceptable, and the content they permit in their comment sections—as “Silence can sometimes feel like endorsement.”
Waje suggested actionable steps for these figures: they should publicly denounce harmful behavior, not to shame, but to educate. She noted that “A simple ‘this is not okay’ from a respected male voice can shift culture faster than a thousand debates.” Furthermore, she urged male influencers to actively amplify women’s voices when topics like harassment, abuse, or inequality are raised, emphasizing that they should stand beside women rather than speaking over them. She concluded that when men model respectful online conduct, it sets the necessary permission for younger boys to replicate that behavior in the real world.
Her contribution solidified the conference’s overarching message: achieving genuine social transformation demands both institutional leadership and intentional, active influence from individuals who possess cultural visibility and reach.
