Some stakeholders, at an event organised to mark the International Women’s Day in Ibadan on Tuesday, advocated for more opportunities for women to thrive and express themselves in Nigeria.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the “He4She Meeting’’ was organised by the Women’s Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC), Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
NAN also reports that the event, with the theme: “Generation Equality: Building an Enabled World”, was organised in collaboration with Active Women Initiative, under the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
The Coordinator of WORDOC, Dr Sharon Omotosho, said that the annual gathering was to bring people from all walks of life together to discuss issues concerning women, family and the nation at large.
She noted that the theme of the celebration was focused on fostering equality between men and women, as against the dominance of women over men.
“Women and girls are not asking to kill all men; we are not hating men; what we are asking for is a space to operate and perform.
“We know that things don’t work out except we have men who understand the concept of ‘complementarity’. Men and women are equal players in the development of the Nigerian society,’’ she said.
Also, Dr Ismail Jimoh, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, said that WORDOC, in its over 30 years of existence, has been at the forefront of advocacy and policy making on women’s issue in Nigeria.
According to him, the theme of the event is on the present and the future of women and development in Nigeria.
“It enjoins us to take seriously the task of building a generation that will create gender equality, which will be the norm of all social lives,’’ he said.
In her address, Mrs Olufunmilayo Soyege, the Osi Iyalode of Ibadanland and Chairperson of the event, traced the history of marginalisation of women in Nigeria.
She stressed the need for women to be enlightened and educated on their rights in the society.
Soyege urged women to be confident and bold in expressing themselves and finding expression for their dreams in life.
“Women should be industrious so as to be financially independent instead of being puppet to men who use them as tools to achieve their desires,” she said.
NAN reports that some of the panelists, who spoke at the event, included Prof. Olanrenwaju Olutayo, Afeyodion Raphael, the Programme Coordinator of Educare Trust and Mrs Titi Asabia, a legal officer with DAWN Commission.
They all emphasised the need to address fundamental issues affecting women in competing favourably with their male counterparts.
Also, Mrs Oluyemisi Collins, the Chairman, Federation of International Women’s Lawyers (FIDA), urged women to employ legal tools in addressing their concerns, as against the use of physical force.
She enjoined women to support one another and befriend themselves in order to have adequate representation at all levels of governance.