Ivorien professor pictured backing a student's baby speaks out, says being mothers shouldn't discourage women from getting education

Ivory Coast professor Honore Kahi, who was pictured carrying a student's baby on his back in class said being a mother should not stop women getting an education, BBC reports.

Prof. Kahi said he offered to take the baby because he was crying and preventing the mother from sitting in class. He said his students were surprised, began to laugh and then took pictures.

Some of those who shared the photos on social media showered him with praises, describing him as a hero. Mr Kahi, who teaches communications at Ivory Coast's Bouake University, said that women should not be discouraged by people's perceptions of what they should be able to do.

"What prevails here is... male chauvinism, he said. and then quoted an ancient philosopher in his interview with BBC Afrique. "It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.' In our environment we let ourselves be discouraged by others."

He said that when he took the baby and tied him on his back he stopped crying and fell asleep, adding that he learned how to do it by observing how women carry their children.

"In fact, men are able to do certain things, and usually it's the way society sees men that prevents them from doing these things."

Source: BBC