With more awareness and education, women are increasingly agitating for equity, education, economic and political empowerment and respect for the dignity of womanhood. This tends to become more evident every time the International Women’s Day comes up. This year’s celebration in Calabar, Cross River State again brought to the fore the problems of women in developing countries and the need for an affirmative action to address them. Women, according to a nongovernmental organisation in Calabar, Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI), will continue to campaign against those issues that debase them until the male-dominated society see reason to treat them with respect, dignity and equity, as nature designed it to be. Issues which the women want our government to address urgently include male child preference, harmful traditional practices, widowhood rites, early or forced marriage, female genital mutilation, implementation of the representation ratio of women in legislative houses, decision making process, segxwally transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and implementation of the recommendations of the Beijing conference of 1995. Not second class citizens Ofonoasaha Ekpo Udom, a facilitator with the GPI, said these issues and others have reduced women to second class citizens, hence governments all over the world must do something urgently to correct this gender discrimination, or the world will continue the bear the brunt of women agitations. Ms. Udom explained that women were not asking for too much, but their inalienable right to compete with their male counterparts in all spheres of human endeavours. She added that societies where women are still seen as baby factories should be educated to have a change of heart, as women too can contribute to the development of a country. According to her, the Parents-Daughters-Teachers forum organised by the GPI on the eve of the International Woman’s Day celebration, was aimed at bringing parents and their daughters together to exchange ideas on issues that may be agitating them, and find a way out since society has become dynamic. “It’s a feedback mechanism on the girl-child issues,” Ms. Udom said. Grooming for the future “We work with 22 schools in Calabar. We allow parents to discuss issues that are challenging to them and also those ones that have caused positive changes in their children. This, in the main, creates a cordial working relationship and helps the job of facilitators of the programme. “Most importantly is the fact that this event is organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day celebration in Calabar and other places. Issues discussed here help to shape the struggle for an empowered and freed womanhood. We tell the girls what the day stands for, how to tackle women issues and problems, and how to groom themselves to face the challenges of life,” she said. GPI was established in 1994 and has outreach centres in Benin, Edo State; Asaba, Delta State; and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
| Posted: at | |
TRENDING GISTS 
Arrest Tompolo Now! Nigerian Doctor Dares EFCC To Go After Niger Delta Militant Leader, Tompolo
Expect Davido Someday As Governor Of Osun – Formere Senator Ben Murray-Bruce Declares
Panic In Abuja As Pastor Shoots Two Immigration Officers After Being Mistaken Them For Robbers
Retired Teacher, Mallam Kabiru Killed, Wife Abducted As Bandits Invade Zamfara School Quarters
Army Busts Gunrunning Syndicate in Plateau, Two Arrested With AK-47 (Photos)
Ringside Rumble? Fans Hype Possible Boxing Showdown Between Small Doctor And Portable
16-Year-Old Maths Wizard, Olamide Aderibigbe Scores 336 Overall In UTME; Scores 98 in Maths