Leo Igwe

From Philosopedia

Igwe, Leo (26 July 1970 - )

Igwe is Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Humanist Movement.

A skeptic and atheist, Igwe and his colleagues in 2008 received the Nordic Rainbow Humanist award for their risky public support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in Nigeria.

In 2008, Igwe and the Nigerian Humanists organized a national conference on Osu caste system and untouchability.

In 2006, Nigeria's Federal Executive Council approved a bill that prohibited same-sex marriages and relationships, providing for a prison term of five years with no option of fining those who contact or have relationships with a person of the same sex or even aid or support same sex marriage or relationships. Nigeria's Justice Minister Bayo Ojo explained his position, that same-sex marriage is "unAfrican and is prohibited in the Bible and the Koran."

"To the contrary," Igwe wrote,

• Homosexuality is not unAfrican. Homosexual practice has been going on in Africa for ages. What is really unAfrican is homophobia, not homosexuality. The anti-homosexual attitude is largely based on the Bible and the Koran. Hence, the Church, along with Islamic groups in Africa, has been vehemently opposed to any attempt to recognize the humanity and human rights of gays and lesbians.

• It is unfortunate that the debate over gay rights in Nigeria has been marked by a lot of ignorance, prejudice, holy hatred, dogma and religious fanaticism.

• The Nigerian Humanist Movement calls for reason, common sense, thoughtfulness, knowledge, love, tolerance, human solidarity, and empathy in all national endeavors. We urge President Obasanjo not to copy the US President George W. Bush, who wants to change the American constitution to make gay marriage unlawful. Nigeria should instead emulate South Africa and make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation illegal.

• Nigeria should honor its commitments as a signatory to the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other human rights documents. The Nigerian Humanist Movement is therefore appealing to the honorable members of the National Assembly to reject the bill banning same sex marriage.

Igwe writes in various publications and is known for his liberal, humanistic, and skeptical views.

(See entry for the Nigerian Humanist Movement.)

Igwe Attacked At a Symposium on Witchcraft and Child Rights

In July 2009, Igwe was attacked in Calabar, Nigeria, by several hundred members of Liberty Gospel Church, led by Helen Akpabio. Police dislodged the mob and restored peace. Igwe was not harmed. See a video.