Federal government has been tasked to liberate Nigerian women by observing the 35% affirmative action in political participation and representation in public office used as a campaign promises to get women’s vote.
Speaking at a media briefing to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day the Chief Executive Officer, MMS Woman of Fortune Hall of Fame
(WoFHoF) Initiative, Mr. Kingsley Anaroke said while calling on the National Assembly to review the bill, it will not be out of place to consider a gender equality bill because women are still being viewed as second class citizens among their opposite sex in Nigeria.
Anaroke who was speaking on this year’s theme: Press for Progress, lamented that gender disparity has become a key determinant of economic and social advancement of countries. “This makes a case for advocacy for greater diversity, women representation and inclusion across all meaningful and sustainable activities more pressing now”, he said.
Citing the example of gender disparity in the maritime sector, Anaroke pointed out that there is an estimated 3,000 members in 40 countries of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) “out of this number, women represents only 2% of Seafarers”, he lamented.
Also speaking at the event, the first Director General, Nigerian Chambers of Shipping (NCS) and Former President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA-Nigerian) and a Program Advisor, Mrs. Akerele Ifeyinwa who has carved an niche in a male dominated industry and left an indelible mark in shipping industry enjoined women to make positive impact wherever they find themselves.
According to Akerele, Women’s day is being set aside to recognize women for critical role they play in the society, celebrate their
success to inspire and inform the struggling ones that hope is not lost.
As part of the activities marking the International Women’s Day, the MMS WoFHoF Initiative is unveiling some heroines in an inspiration-packed documentary juxtaposing the strong and the weak as a tool for knowledge management to advance the cause of gender equality and women empowerment. This, Anaroke pointed out is one of the features in the MMS Hall of Farmers Day/Charity Night slated for next week in Lagos State.
“As a flagship brand in gender balance advocacy, MMS WoFHoF Initiative has concluded arrangement to assemble Nigerian women in Abuja, for a two-day gender strategic conference which seeks to draw women from the 6 geo-political zones of the country to make a resounding statement on the fate women in corporate and political participation and representation in Nigerian”, he concluded,