Esther Oseyiomon
The growing pressure on African women to remain resilient, make endless sacrifices and shoulder family responsibilities is emerging as an overlooked human security concern, with implications for family stability, social cohesion and national development, Dakore Ekpendu, the CEO of Public Intel Security Africa and host of Security security-focused programme on the Nigeria Police Radio, and Senator Iroegbu, Editor-in-Chief of Global Sentinel and security analyst, have warned.
Speaking on the theme: “The First Born African Girl Child (Human and Gender Security Perspective), with special focus on the topic: “The Politics of the Strong African Woman”, the speakers examined how cultural expectations, economic pressures and unequal family responsibilities have shaped society’s understanding of women’s strength, particularly the experiences of first daughters.
Ekpendu noted that African women have traditionally been regarded as the backbone of their families, often expected to ensure that their husbands, children and other relatives are provided for, even when they have little or nothing left for themselves.
She questioned the assumptions that a good African woman must never give up, should always know how to manage her home and must tolerate difficult circumstances, including infidelity, in the interest of preserving her family.
According to her, these expectations have created a culture in which women are pressured to sacrifice their personal needs and emotional well-being. At the same time, society celebrates their ability to endure hardship.
She also drew attention to the experiences of first daughters, who are frequently expected to assume the responsibilities of second mothers from an early age, caring for younger siblings, attending to household needs and supporting their parents financially.
Ekpendu explained that while such responsibilities can build resilience, leadership and independence in some women, they can also expose others to emotional exhaustion, trauma and psychological distress. She noted that the burden is often unequally distributed, with first daughters carrying responsibilities that other children in the family may not experience.
Contributing to the discussion, Iroegbu argued that human security must extend beyond conventional threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery to include emotional stability, psychological well-being, personal safety and the security of the family unit.
He explained that individuals experiencing emotional instability may struggle to build healthy relationships, raise stable families and contribute meaningfully to society, warning that unresolved emotional and economic pressures can weaken the family structure and create wider social vulnerabilities.
Iroegbu further linked poverty, unemployment and excessive family responsibilities to the growing security challenges confronting society, noting that young people under intense pressure to provide for their families may become vulnerable to criminal activities, including internet fraud and other harmful practices.
He also highlighted how desperation to escape difficult family circumstances can influence decisions surrounding relationships and marriage, potentially exposing vulnerable individuals to abusive relationships, exploitation and other forms of insecurity.
The speakers’ arguments underscored the need for a broader national security framework that recognises the relationship between individual well-being, family stability and societal security. They stressed that protecting human security requires addressing not only physical threats but also the economic, psychological and social conditions that expose individuals and families to vulnerability.
They called for a reassessment of the traditional definition of the strong African woman, stressing that women’s resilience should not be measured by how much suffering they can endure, but by a society’s willingness to support their dignity, safety and emotional well-being.