My father was a feminist...

I grew up in a home filled with love, respect and a semblance of what equity meant. Gender roles were never clearly defined because everyone (male and female) did every chore one day or another. My father had three daughters and a son, like I always said he had no choice but to be female bias.

My dad always taught us to be passionate about what we wanted to do and created an enabling environment for us as children, so when I wanted to school almost 600 Kilometres away from home in Maiduguri (Born State)all my dad did was give his blessing and ship me off. We were never restricted and never was my brother or any of our male cousins treated better than the girls.

Today would have been his birthday and even in death, I wanted to celebrate his life, the principles he instilled in us and the legacy he left for us to follow.The Late Col. Z.L Gwan was a passionate man, he served his country, did good to humanity and raised daughters (biological and adopted) who are confident, strong and fulfilling their destiny without limitations.

My father taught me "I CAN", whatever I wanted to do he said only I had the power to do it.

SO in honour of his life, I am giving other girls around me a voice and the confidence my father gave me.