From: MAGNUS EZE, Abuja
As the world marks this year’s International Women’s Day, Nigerian women have been urged to unite and pursue gender issues with all the seriousness they deserved especially in creating awareness and changing the mentality of women.
Member of House of Representatives, Linda Ikpeazu and Evelyn Oboro as well as President, National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), Mrs. Gloria Shoda, made the call in their separate remarks at a breakfast debate on the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill organized, on Tuesday, in Abuja, by the Embassy of France and Institut Francais du Nigeria, to commemorate the International Women’s Day.
Ikpeazu opined that some of the issues raised in the bill, like rights to education and inheritance were already settled by Supreme Court decisions, but reasoned that what was needed most was unity of purpose on the part of women.
According to the legislator, women have the numbers since they constitute about 65 per cent of registered voters in Nigeria; and also vote more than the men, so they should endeavour to support one another.
Although it was necessary to have protective bills for women, but Ikpeazu said, “We can actually achieve much without a bill, if we women can work together. Women have to understand that we have the power. Let’s start by electing ourselves into positions; let our first choice always be women.”
Oboro, who is Chairman, Women in Parliament Committee said it was high time the men knew that women are not fighting to take charge and lord it over them, but actually to share in responsibilities.
She called on women to see themselves as equal partners in everything and not inferior to the menfolk.
Contributing, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Denys Gauer said there was no country where women enjoyed equal opportunities in the world today, but urged Nigerian women that with more work, the issues of citizenship right, child/forced marriage, violence against women and other challenges would be addressed.
NCWS President, Shoda insisted that this was the time for Nigerian women to unite; come out boldly and fight for change and their progress instead of waiting for men to assist th