WOMEN TOLD TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE AS THE WORLD MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, women activists have continued the call for women to be given more opportunity to actively participate in every sphere of life.
They made the call while speaking with our Correspondents on the essence of the celebration with the theme “Press For Progress”.
Speaking on the essence of the day, the Director Development Education Centre DEC, Dr Cecilia Asogwa called for equal opportunities to be accorded to women like their men counterparts in every sector of the economy.
She stressed the need for women to be given space and time to fully participate in some areas of development where they were under-utilized.
Dr Asogwa also wants women to take advantage of the on-going voter registration to obtain their voter’s card in order to participate actively in the 2019 general election.
The Director Women Aid Collective, WACOL Dr. Joy Ezeilo who spoke on the essence of the theme said it sought to remind government that laws backing women in the society against indiscriminate act were not effectively implemented.
Also speaking, the President-General Umuada Igbo Worldwide, Dr Kate Ezeofor who condemned the abduction of female students at Dapchi Secondary School Yobe State called on the Federal Government to create enabling environment for youths to be gainfully employed as a way of reducing restiveness among them.
Dr Ezeofor encouraged women to avoid being over-dependent on men.
Similarly,the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Enugu State Chapter has called on women to be agents of change and help in the socio-economic development of the nation.
The State Chairperson of the Association, Comrade Ifeoma Amuta made the call in a message to this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
Comrade Amuta used the occasion to appeal to various government to support women in their quest to press for progress to accelerate gender parity.
Also,the Chief of UNICEF, Enugu Field Office, Dr Ibrahim Conteh says communities and governments must be committed to gender inclusive societies, free from conflict.
Dr Conteh said that the United Nations Agency would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including the media in ensuring the wellbeing of women and children, providing them the platform to reach their potential.
Speaking on the significance of the day, a former Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Millennium Development Goals Implementation in Anambra State, Professor Chinyere Okunna noted that women had contributed much to the economic growth of the country, especially in the agricultural sector.
Professor Okunna who is presently the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, advocated participation of more women in governance.
The Methodist Archbishop of Enugu, the Most Reverend Christopher Edeh reminded women of the critical roles they play in shaping families and societies.
CORRESPONDENTS’ REPORT