Nigerian women have been charged to start making difference and impacting the world by leading change and innovation in their diverse callings for promotion of gender equality.
Wives of Governors of Osun, Ekiti and and Ondo States gave this urge at the 4th Ekiti Gender Summit with the theme “Gender Equality and Women Empowerment post Beijing: Political Will and impact held at AB Civic Centre, Ado-Ekiti.,Ekiti State.
Speaking, Wife of Osun Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola who was accompanied by the wife of Osun Deputy Governor Mrs Oyefunke Alabi and wives of other political office holders in the State to the programme said the theme was in line with the reality of the present situation of women.
Mrs Oyetola said that the Beijing declaration which resulted from the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 set out to tackle the inequalities between women and men in order to enhance the living standard of everyone.
Mrs Oyetola stressed that since twenty five years ago of the declaration, the review of the declaration was long over due to ascertain the level of achievement and the next steps to take on the action.
The wife of the Governor opined that various states in Nigeria had witnessed a lot of achievements on awareness creation on the status of women but many daunting obstacles rooted in cultural and economic systems has impeded the achievements of the objectives of equality of women and men.
She said most women of nowadays are still strapped in violent relationship largely because of various obstacles added that, some are still subjected to the violence against female genital mutilation sexual harrassment, rape as well as discrimination in access to resources such as land and finances.
Speaking in the same vein during her Opening remark, the wife of the Governor of Ekiti State Erelu Bisi Fayemi said the conference was organised in order to build on the gains that had been secured on gender equality in the past in Ekiti State.
She added that Ekiti under the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi is now known as a State that has the most Comprehensive legal and policy frameworks in the Country to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the programme wife of the Governor Ondo State Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu said most women in Nigeria still earn less than men.
Mrs Akeredolu stressed that physical and sexual violence against women was rampant in Nigeria and advised that women should develop political will to free themselves from the trend.
“Solving all obstacles currently faced by women in country especially those in the grassroots, requires political will which is the first and the most important step in every Government at all levels,” the governor’s wife said.
Leave a Reply