SIR: On the United Nations website, the International Women’s Day is described as ”a day to recognise the extraordinary acts of women and to stand together as a united force, to advance gender equality around the world”. This description presupposes that some women are doing some extraordinary acts already and needed to be so recognised and that the rights of some other women are being trampled upon because of their gender status.
In furtherance of the campaign for the special day, the United Nations also chose the day to raise the awareness on the vulnerability of women all over the world to effects of climate change more than men hence the theme “Gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow”. The United Nations is conscious of the fact therefore that women are doing exploits around the globe. It is an incontrovertible truth that the rights of women are greatly trampled upon in some societies using culture and religion as justifications.
The crux of gender equality campaign is to stop the inequality and discrimination against women who unfortunately are victims using the United Nations Women Conference of 1997 in Beijing China as the pilot scheme.
Unfortunately here in Nigeria, the campaign seems misconceived. The rejection of the bill for an Act to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to provide for “special seats” for women in the senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly” in the ongoing constitution amendment proceedings does not suggest insensitivity to women’s rights or trampling on the rights of women as it is being made to look by the women rights campaigners.
The request for the provision of the clause in the first place is contradictorily belittling for women. We have had women in the senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly all the while. Distinguished Senators Florence ita-Giwa, Daisy Danjuma, Grace Brent, Joy Emordi and a host of others were eminently elected into the senate on their own merit and rights. And same can also be said for Senators Olujimi, Oluremi Tinubu and others who are currently in the hallowed chambers of the senate. There are equally, eminently qualified women honourable members of the House of Representatives and state assemblies past and present elected on their merits.
Asking for lowering of university entrance and matriculation board examination score for the girl-child is also not right. Are you going to further ask for lowering of marks at subsequent examinations in the tertiary institutions after the girl-child is admitted? There are women professors in every academic field of learning who have in the past, and who are presently doing great all over the country. Were marks lowered in their favour? There are currently a sizeable number of women vice chancellors in our universities. Were their appointments based on gender consideration? Absolutely not. They got their positions through merit and hard work.
Asking for special seats in NASS and state assemblies is an admission of inferiority. Angela Merkel was chancellor of Germany for 16 years not because she is woman, but because she was absolutely able and capable. There are lots of women doing great exploits all over the world. Back home in Nigeria, the managing directors of the foremost commercial banks are women. Professor Dora Akunyili left an indelible mark in the sands of time in our country history. Past and present, the Nigerian women have never been second fiddle nor pushed around. They have contributed their excellent quotas to the development of this country and equally in her shortcomings. The two genders take all the credits and the blames in equal percentages. Even some “mischievous” males tend to blame women more for the actions and inactions around our political dispensation as a country.
The campaign in my opinion therefore is to identify the areas where there are discriminations against women based on cultural, religious and social justifications and work for its rectification. A woman who loses in a political party primaries election has not suffered and discrimination based on gender. She only lost an election. The woman’s brain is not, never inferior to the man’s.
- Fola Aiyegbusi,
hefzibar2006@yahoo.com