From: Bimbola Oyesola
As Nigerian women joined their counterparts world over to celebrate International Day of Women, on Wednesday, organised labour and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have urged the Federal Government to put in place programmes and policies that would ensure equal opportunities for women and men in the country.
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a statement by its President, Dr. Nike Akande, said the contribution of women to the growth and development of the nation’s economy has been phenomenal..
Akande felicitating with Nigerian women on the special day said the importance of the day cannot be over emphasised as women remain the foundation of any society having regard to their critical role in the family structure.
“Since independence, women have continuously braced the odds to emerge leaders in politics, business, sports, academics and in every other profession”, she said.
She noted that the role of women in shaping families is one worthy of celebration as women have selflessly dedicated themselves to the nurturing and upbringing of their children.
The LCCI President noted that the quality of this upbringing has a major influence on the quality of leadership in any society, stating that the values of integrity, humility, fear of God, love, selflessness, sacrifice and hardwork are best imbibed at the level of the family.
Speaking on this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, which focuses on “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030, Akande said government should ensure that Nigerian women are accorded their rightful place in the society.
She said, “As women and children are the most vulnerable in war and conflict situations, we ask that women who have been affected by conflicts and other forms of dislocations be well protected and economically empowered.
“The various Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps [IDPs] are populated largely by women and children. We appreciate the efforts of government and humanitarian organizations in alleviating their plights. But evidently, a lot more needs to be done to bring normalcy to their lives. We urge the government, corporate bodies, and individuals to scale up their support for the IDPs in all parts of the country.
In the same vein, the Vice President IndustriALL global, Issa Aremu at the celebration of the day by the women in the movement charged the organised labour in the country to ensure that women get 40 percent of the union’s leadership.
He noted that this was determined during the global union meeting in Brazil late last year and Nigeria should henceforth begin to reflect this in all the organs of the union.
“While we celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women it is also a call to action for accelerating gender parity, a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of our nation”, he said.
