Esther Ijewere

Esther Ijewere (formerly Esther Kalejaiye) is a Nigerian advocate, author, women and girl child's rights activist and a columnist for The Guardian. She is a key member of Walk Against Rape (W.A.R),[1] an advocacy initiative created to assist rape victims and seek justice.[2]

Esther Ijewere
NationalityNigerian
Alma materOlabisi Onabanjo University
Occupations
  • Social Activist
  • Writer
Organization(s)Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children

Education

Ijewere is a graduate of Sociology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.[3]

Career

Ijewere is the founder of Rubies Ink Initiative for Women and Children, an umbrella organization which covers several women and girl child-related projects including Walk Against Rape, Women of Rubies, Project Capable, Rubies Ink Media and the College Acquaintance Rape Education Workshop.[4] At the start of her career with Rubies Ink, she had to self fund all projects.[5] In 2013, her activism against rape led her to write the book Breaking the Silence, a book that informs about rape and its scourge.[6] She runs a community for men called Men Who Inspire to celebrate the bravery in men.[7]

Advocacy

In 2015, Ijewere organised a walk against rape which attracted top celebrities like Kate Henshaw, Ali Baba, Toni Payne, DJ Jimmy Jatt and others.[8] She is a key member of Walk Against Rape (W.A.R),[1] an advocacy initiative created to assist rape victims and seek justice. This initiative was endorsed by the Lagos State Ministry Of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.[9][2] This campaign led her to organise rape sensitising workshops in secondary schools across the Nigeria tagged College Acquaintance Rape Education (C.A.R.E), in partnership with the Lagos state Ministry of Justice and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).[10][11]

Get Talking With Esther

Get Talking with Esther is an online talk-show (Tweetchat) anchored by Esther aimed at helping people find their voice and communicate their thoughts through words, and promote positivity on social media.[12][13][14]

Women of Rubies

She is the publisher of the women focused blog, ‘Women of Rubies ’ which tells the inspirational stories of leading women in different sectors who are contributing their quota to nation building and adding value to the society through their work. [15][16]

Charity

With her Rubies Ink Initiative for women and children, Esther reaches out to the downtrodden in the society.[17][18][19]

Catalyst 2030

In May 2022, Esther hosted the catalyst 2030 session on media and public policy. The virtual workshop was hosted during the Catalyzing Change Week 2022(CCW2022).[20][21]

Awards and nominations

Her contributions to the Nigerian society has been recognised by several institutions and governmental parastatal.[22] On 9 July 2016, she was awarded the "Young Person of the Year Award" at the 2016 Miss Tourism Nigeria beauty pageant.[23] She is also a recipient of Wise Women Awards' "Christian Woman in Media Award" which she won in June 2016.[24] In 2018, Esther won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Exquisite Ladies of the Year Awards.[25]

Personal life

Ijewere is a single mum of two kids. In an interview with The Sun, she advised and encouraged women facing domestic violence in their marriage to reconsider their long term stand in such relationship while speaking on separation from her former husband.[26]

References
  1. Abimboye, Michael (23 February 2015). "Esther Ijewere's walk against rape gets govt, celebrities backing". Connect Nigeria. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. Ajiki, Christiana (20 April 2020). "Everyday Heroes: Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye". Connect Nigeria. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  3. Joseph, Tinuola (13 December 2013). "'Rape victims now come out and talk' – Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye unveils Breaking the Silence". Encomium Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  4. "CEO of Rubies Ink, Ijewere-Kalejaiye, wins 'Young Person of the Year Award'". The Eagle. News Agency of Nigeria. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  5. Ogujiuba, Azuka (6 May 2017). "Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye: Many People Don’t Like My Openness about Rape". This Day. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. Ajose, Kehinde (4 April 2015). "Speaking up against rape helps the victims get justice — Esther Ijewere Kalejaiye". Vanguard News. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  7. Onyegbula, Esther (15 August 2019). "Being a single mom is not a death sentence — Ijewere". Vanguard. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. Esene, Isime (3 August 2016). "Seun Onigbinde, Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Olumide Makanjuola… See the #YNaijaPowerList2016 for Advocacy". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  9. Esene, Isime (3 August 2016). "Seun Onigbinde, Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Olumide Makanjuola… See the #YNaijaPowerList2016 for Advocacy". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  10. Olapoju, Kolapo (13 February 2015). "Rubies Ink partners with LASG to organize C.A.R.E workshop". YNaija. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. Sanwo, Aderinsola (26 April 2017). "Quote of the day: "I am not scared of lifting other women up. As long as I wear the crown, no one can take my throne." Esther Ijewere". Leading Ladies Africa. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. Kolapo Olapoju (8 August 2020). "Esther Ijewere launch get talking with esther a tweet chat initiative". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  13. Kolapo Olapoju (12 August 2020). "Get Talking With Esther Debuts". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  14. Rotimi Agbana (7 August 2020). "Esther Ijewere Launches Tweet Chat Show Get Talking With Esther/". Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  15. Rotimi Agbana (10 April 2022). "Women of rubies was born out of my passion for humanity". Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  16. Rotimi Agbana (8 October 2016). "Women Of Rubies At 1: The journey so far". Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  17. "Rubies Ink Initiative supports senior citizens with christmas goodies". 23 December 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  18. "Rubies Ink Initiative feed aged for christmas/". 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  19. "Rubies Ink Initiative feed aged for christmas/". 25 December 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  20. "Esther Ijewere hosts catalyst 2030 session on media public policy/". 5 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  21. "Catalysing Change Week". 9 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  22. Kolapo Olapoju (13 February 2015). "Rubies Ink partners with LASG to organize C.A.R.E workshop". YNaija. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  23. "CEO of Rubies Ink, Esther Ijewere-Kalejaiye :Wins "young person of the year award"". The Guardian News. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  24. Yusuf Adeoye (27 June 2016). "ESTHER IJEWERE-KALEJAIYE WINS WISE WOMEN AWARDS". TimelineNG. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  25. Today (26 November 2018). "Full list: Winners of 2018 ELOY Awards". Today.ng. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  26. Idemudia, Raphael (30 August 2020). "'I don't regret walking out of my marriage' – Esther Ijewere". The Sun. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
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