Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has identified violence against women, domestic abuse, rape and commercial sexual exploitation as part of systemic barriers to women’s economic, political and social equality. He said in these troubled times, when the world becomes more unpredictable and chaotic, the rights of women and girls are being severely eroded.
Governor Obaseki, who spoke at a four-day international gender conference organised by the Centre for Gender Studies, Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, with the theme: Implementing and sustaining gender mainstreaming in a globalized world, assured that empowering women and girls is the only way to protect their rights and make sure they can realise their full potentials. “That is why we should all be committed to increasing women’s participation in all facets of our social and economic existence. We need a clear road map, backed by distinct benchmarks, to achieve gender parity across systems. We must move from ambition to action,” he said. The Governor was represented by his Special Adviser on Gender Issues Mrs Efosa Uyigue.
He observed that the conference came at a significant phase of the nation’s democratic experience during which “our institutions are not only being tested, but also in which our collective resolve to provide greater latitude for relevant gender inclusion and participation is under scrutiny.” He noted that while strong advocacy has ensured that women are part of, or benefit from governance, education policies, community empowerment, budgetary processes, civil rights and overall development, the cold reception encountered by the gender and equal opportunities bill at the National Assembly is sufficient indication of the significant barriers still on the path to gender equality in Nigeria.
The Governor recalled that it was in response to this that his administration made inclusion of women in government, policy making and legislation a matter of singular and committed focus.
Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. M. S Jimah, who was represented by Deputy Rector (Administration) Engineer Zubair, said cultural obstacles that impeded the advancement of women are now increasingly being dismantled in Nigeria, adding that the girl child now has a near equal access to education as the male child.
He added that women are now found in board rooms of corporate organisations, in virtually all professions holding forth. “In politics, the women are coming. More than ever before, women are commissioners, ministers, legislators and are taking shots at the presidency of the country. In Africa, Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia is on record as the first female president of an African country. In the early 20th Century and up until the later part of it, these attainments by women were unthinkable,” he said.
According to him, this goes to show that advocacy for opportunities for women and placing them in mainstream of national and international events is working and effective.
Director, Centre for Gender Studies, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Helen Uhuanmwagho, said the centre is open to collaborate with relevant agencies in carrying out its activities. She stressed that in order to be better positioned to carry out its activities the centre welcomes individuals, groups, and organisations that will furnish it with a library, counselling room, consultancy room, tools for advocacy, among others.
The keynote speaker, Dr. S. Eshiotse, replaced Kwame Nyamekye, a lawyer, who was initially scheduled, while Prof Agatha Eguavoen presented the lead paper.
In a communiqué at the close of the four-day gathering, its organisers resolved that as a matter of urgency, gender issues should be addressed through appropriate legislations while conscious efforts must be made in bringing up children to reflect gender equality within the premise of fairness that eliminates segregation and superiority among sexes. It also recommended that women should be involved in mainstreaming and all areas of policy formulation.
The communiqué also stated that ‘there should be collaborative effort between government and non-governmental agencies in formulating and sustaining gender mainstreaming in a globalised world;
- Cultural impediments militating against gender should be removed with a view to building a culture of tolerance;
- The imbalance and gap created as it relates to gender issues should be bridged through policies and legislation;
- There should be a fair and level playing ground for both male and female folks to grow without creating cultural superiority that gives undue advantage to either of the sexes.
- There should be continuous programmes that will aid the promotion of gender issues by stakeholders in all walks of life.
- Acts of gender discrimination should be identified and appropriately sanctioned. Some thought provoking papers were presented by scholars from within Nigeria and the Diaspora. They included What Men can do, Women can do better: A Review of Art works of Selected Female Artists, Effective Empowerment of Women for Political Participation, Strategies for achieving Gender equality on career choice and Manpower Development in Nigeria, Gender Inequality and Women participation in Nigeria: Edo State in focus, Strategies for effective Empowerment of Women for Political Participation and Psychological Considerations in gender involvement in the use of ICT: The Nigeria Perspective.
The conference, which honoured three distinguished Nigerians; Senator Francis Alimikhena (for human capital development), Justice Constance Momoh and Mrs. Aisha Yesufu for their selfless services to humanity, was attended by Dr. Stephen Aigbepue, Dr. Lucky Ojo, Mrs Blessing Ojo, Dr. Bamidele Agbadua, Dr. Josephine Akhigbe, Mr. Omoregie Kester, Dr. Dan Osariyekemwen and Engineer Edith Oyati. Others were representatives of the military, police, traditional rulers, religious organisations and civil society groups.