“Guard your light and protect it. Move it forward into the world and be fully confident that if we connect light to light to light, and join the lights together…we will be enough to set our whole planet aglow.”

Since age 19, Hafsat Abiola, one of the women featured in SEVEN, has been an activist, rallying her fellow Nigerians to strive for democracy and consistently being on the frontlines for change.   This year, she will be honored at the Vital Voices 15th Annual Global Leadership Awards.

Hafsat is the founder and board president of KIND, the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy;  the organization is Hafsat’s tribute to her mother, Kudirat, who was assassinated for her political efforts.  To honor her and her work, Hafsat founded KIND with the vision of an Africa where women are full participants in the continent’s development. Based in Lagos, KIND advances women’s leadership by removing barriers to women’s political participation and working to eliminate violence against women.

Long before Boko Haram and the Bring Back Our Girls initiative made international headlines, Hafsat made dangerous trips to targeted areas, meeting with survivors of terrorist attacks and organizing coalitions of women to demand action against the extremist group and its ruthless campaign of gender-based violence.   Now she serves as a member of the cabinet and special advisor to the Ogun State government, still tirelessly working to keep communities save and to ensure women’s rights.

The awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, in Washington D.C.   For a link to the information page with reservation information, click here.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
6:30 PM – VIP RECEPTION | 7:30 PM – AWARDS PRESENTATION | 9:00 PM – POST-AWARDS RECEPTION

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Eisenhower Theater
Washington, District of Columbia