Vogue’s 12 Women Leaders Who Changed the World List Of 2020

Two Nigerians have been named on ‘Vogue’s 12 Women Leaders That Changed The World In 2020’ list.

The duo of Damilola Odufuwa and Odun Eweniyi share the number 3 spot on a list that has notable women like Kamala Harris, the US Vice President-Elect, and Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany amongst others.

They are fintech executives, women rights advocates, and founders of the Feminist Coalition, a group that was at the core of the EndSars protest in October.

Here is what Vogue Had to say about them.

For years, women activists across Nigeria have used online tools to organise social change, whether it was to free the Chibok girls kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram or to raise awareness about gender-based violence. In July, Damilola Odufuwa and Odunayo Eweniyi formed a group with 11 other women called the Feminist Coalition with the aim of improving the rights of Nigerian women. When anger about the unchecked police brutality by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) reached a fever pitch in autumn, they launched into action with their first project — and the #EndSARS movement became a rallying cry around the world.

The Feminist Coalition regards itself not as a political organisation, but as a community-building enterprise and women’s rights advocacy group. Using their sophisticated skills in technology and social media, they were able to disseminate real-time information, which raised awareness and funds for the peaceful protests. Rather than a top-down leadership model, Odufuwa, Eweniyi and their colleagues are democratising information as a way to empower the Nigerian people to make the change they seek.

Reacting to the news, they both said:

Incredibly honoured to see my name included in a list recognising so many women I admire. Jacinda Ardern, Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams. WOW! Up FemCo! Thank you @BritishVogue @VOGUEIndia ? //t.co/pWZewct6lF

— Damilola Odufuwa (@darlingdami) December 12, 2020

On a Vogue list with women leaders that I more than admire and look up to. Kamala Harris(!), Stacey Abrams, Jacinta Arden, Angela Merkel.
This is so surreal and I’m so honored! Thank you @BritishVogue @VOGUEIndia ? //t.co/njQn6lhoG2
— Tech Bro (@OdunEweniyi) December 12, 2020

This is not their first international win. They were also recently listed on Bloomberg50’s list of people who are changing the global business landscape.