 I am a woman and I deserve a place on the table. The road to gender equality requires the elimination of all forms of discrimination, violence, exploitation, harmful policies and practices that affects women. Data from the World Bank suggests that globally, around 2.4 billion women of working age are not afforded equal economic opportunities with 178 countries maintaining legal barriers that prevent the full economic participation of women. In Nigeria, the case may not be different as development indicators from the World Bank as of 2020 shows that the country has only made 0.33% progress with respect to gender equality. This is why volunteer migrants and women in media advocate for a balanced society where no one is left behind. The call is all about equal rights, conditions, opportunity and powers for us as women to shape our life to contribute to the development of the society in general. The society persists when women and girls can contribute on the same terms as boys and men through their knowledge and resources. Tapping into the abilities and initiative of women is an important driver to development. We need to make conscious effort as a people. If you look at our political scene right now, we don't have 10% of women in governance. We seem to be re-trogressing compared to what we had a couple of years back. We need to have conscious effort, legislation, laws that will make it compulsory and necessary for us to have seats that are available for capable women. I'd like to emphasise that. I know that it can sound a bit intimidating for certain people when you say equality. They are quick to tell you a man and a woman and all the same. There's the head, there's the neck, there's a place for every single person. But what it's calling for actually is to give women equal opportunity, equal playing field for setting desires, aspiration, fundamental human rights. It's not anything outrageous at the end of the day. It's not contest within gender. It's to say that if a woman aspires to political heights, she should get there. If she's in the military, she has the right to get there. If she wants to have a certain job opportunity, she should not be held back because she's a woman. She should not be denied setting fundamental rights as a result of her gender will be treated less than a male because she's a woman. So it's nothing too difficult to achieve actually for the world. Imagine a world where we have gender equality. Imagine in Nigeria where you have 50% of women in the National Assembly, women who are capable, women who can make a difference. The ones we have in place that are doing great, we need to encourage more women. Don't just encourage them, support them. We actually need to have more men talking about gender equality than we have women talking about it. Because men, perhaps if they are talking about it, they will listen to themselves. Let's support gender equality. This message is from the Migrants as Messengers volunteers.