By Itoro Godwin

Convener Of Catalyst for Global Change and Justice (CPJ), Mr. Abraham Sam, has urged the Lagos State Government to put in measures to empower women. He said this during a walk from Okota Roundabout to Cele Bus Stop, Lagos, to mark the International Women’s Day tagged: “No to Violence Against Women in the Country.”

Giving insight to the women’s day he said “it is a day set aside to defend women in the world and to give them voice like our male counterpart for them to be treated equally.

“We live in a world where the voices of women are not heard and they are being subjected to violence and discrimination. That is why a day like this is set aside for them to be given consideration both in politics, marriage and every endeavours.”

Sam added that in a world where women are not valued, “then the society becomes useless and unproductive. All leaders of the world today were given birth to by women and also nurtured before they became what they are today.”

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Mr. Biyi Adekoya, Programme Director, said women must be treated with care either in marriage, at home and anywhere they are found: “They must be given the opportunity to be heard. No man has the right to violate the rights of his girl child or his wife no matter the situation.”

He stated that women are usually subject to abuse either in form of physically or domestic abuse and as such it must be eradicated at all cost for the society to developed.

Mrs. Wunmi Kayode-Ajala urged women to always speak out especially those that are abused in their marriage. It is only when they speak out that the government can hear their complain.

She said lots of women and children were molested and many even lost their lives during this period and the men work about freely as if nothing happened. Most women are sometimes living in fear of the society or are being cowed.

Kayode-Ajala added that sometimes the government agencies are not helping matters: “When a woman reports about rape or her home the police usually scold them to go and put their home in order. That is why the problem keeps lingering.”