Veteran Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has joined the fight against gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The 65-year-old actor emerged as a key stakeholder in the Male Feminists Network on Friday and used his platform to call for greater inclusion of women, particularly in government.

Speaking in Abuja, RMD shared his personal experience of employing 80 percent women in the crew of a film he produced two years ago. He advised that putting a woman in charge of government tasks ensures efficiency, adding that one can “sleep with your eyes closed” when a woman is in charge. He also urged men to treat women with respect and dignity, warning against objectification and violence.

RMD emphasized that ending violence against women is not a struggle women should fight alone. He called on men to take responsibility for changing harmful attitudes and behaviors, and to lend their voices to organizations working for women’s rights.

Public affairs analyst and gender advocate Dr. Otive Igbuzor also noted that traditional and religious leaders can become powerful allies in preventing gender-based violence.

RMD said:
“Personally, when I did a film two years ago, I had like 80 percent women in the crew. And I always say to people in my profession, if you want to have anything done in government, put a woman in charge, and you can sleep with ‘your eyes closed.'”

“Just give respect to women and treat them like human beings. Or treat them like the way you would treat your daughter or your wife, with respect, with dignity. You know, don’t objectify them, don’t perpetrate violence. Correcting them does not mean hitting and beating them. It is easier to talk to people these days than to just use your fist.”

“There are institutionalized and systemic ways that women’s rights are trampled upon in Nigeria, and it is not something only women can fight. We also have to lend our voices to organizations working for women’s rights and against gender-based violence.”