Significance is Success
For every person, there is often a fleeting moment when you have to decide whether you will pursue significance or success. For me, it happened when I was 16 and was assaulted by a young boy who gave me the precious gift of discomfort with the way the world viewed and valued women. I was convinced that regardless of the winding path my life took, I ultimately would endeavor to serve and to challenge societal and systemic ‘norms’ which intentionally render women and girls vulnerable. I was fortunate to have been raised by a father who prophetically nicknamed me “Pathfinder” as a child and a mother who championed the causes of women and taught me that amplifying the voices of others was my duty; that life was incomplete without purpose.
As a Nigerian woman who is both an English and American trained attorney, the lens through which I see the world has been fashioned by my mother’s words and the blessing of exposure to both the best and the worst of humanity. That experience dictates that I give my life to leveling the playing field so that more women and girls get a seat at the table. That, however, first requires their empowerment and an awakening of human consciousness, particularly in patriarchal societies. That is my commitment and I consider myself fortunate that my work with female survivors of sex trafficking, rape, and child sex abuse enables me to do that. For me, significance is success.
R. Evon Idahosa, the daughter of Archbishops Benson and Margaret Idahosa, is the founder of PJI and currently serves as Executive Director. She is also a trained English Barrister and an American lawyer who worked as a partner in a national defense law firm in New York for over a decade before venturing full time into activism on behalf of women and girls. As a native of a developing nation (Nigeria), Ms. Idahosa is particularly passionate about addressing the shrouded issues of child sex abuse, sex trafficking (modern day slavery) and gender-based violence in the developing world because of her compelling commitment to the liberation of women in developing countries. Although women are the backbone of every society, they are often subjugated and maltreated in a manner which not only generates diseased souls, but devalues their indispensable contribution to society. Her passion and compassion are geared towards developing a generation of women who stand confident in who they are, what they bring to the table and what they can achieve. She is a firm believer that if you can empower a woman and engage men as allies for gender justice, you can change any society. Ms. Idahosa is a dynamic speaker and published writer whose voice echoes thousands of young voices via PathFinders’ #TakeMeOffMute™ (anti-child sex abuse), #SheSaidNo (anti-rape) and #Not4Sale (anti-sex trafficking) campaigns. She has appeared on multiple news outlets including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera and NBC and has been named one of
New York’s New Abolitionists. She has also been nationally recognized for her efforts in seeking an end to gender-based violence in the developing world. Click
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Learn more about PJI: pathfindersji.org
