Last year, The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS), a Nigerian human rights group advocating for the empowerment and safety of sexual minorities, created The Freedom Awards. Through public nomination, outstanding Nigerian activists and advocates who work to create an equal society are selected and recognized in different categories.
The winners last year included the broadcast journalist Kiki Mordi, for Freedom Fighter of the Year; the culture journalist Vincent Desmond, for The Young Activist Award; and the writer Ani Kayode Somtochukwu, for SOGIESC Rights Activist of the Year.
Here are the 2020 winners.
Women’s Rights of the Year
STATE OF EMERGENCY GBV (GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE) MOVEMENT
The Trailblazer Award
OLUMIDE MAKANJUOLA
The Young Activist Award
MARIAM SULE
SOGIESC Rights Activist of the Year
MATTHEW BLAISE
The Allyship Award
ZIKOKO
Open Country congratulates the winners.