By Praise Chinecherem
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih has called for equality, fairness and justice to ensure women were given their rightful positions in the country.
Anenih stated this on Thursday during 2024 Gear Up Women Summit as part of 2-Day Programme to Mark International Women’s Day themed: “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”
She regretted the “second fiddle” treatment on women, especially by politicians, stressing it was high time women rose to their positions in the society.
She said, “You have to stand up and take your stand. We can’t sit back and wait for invitation to contribute your quota. I’m happy it’s part of our discussions.
“We’re tired of sharing of bags of rice by politicians. They give us sewing and grinding machine, yet no light to operate it.
“The empowerment we want is education, economic emancipation and enabling environment to reach our Zenith.
“We’re also asking for equity, fairness, justice and equal opportunity. If there’s appointment, it should be 50-50 men and women. Women must have to catch up.”
Aneni however frowned at what she called absentee fathers, calling on husbands to rise up to their responsibilities as heads of family for balanced children upbringing.
“Women cannot raise a balanced home, financially, psychologically, emotionally and otherwise.
“Fathers’ responsibility is not just to donate sperm while the women produce the children. It will only lead to disfunctionality,” she added.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo thanked Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeoye Aderemi for ensuring accelerated speed was granted to criminal cases relating to women.
She also appreciated Chief magistrate in charge of Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court, saying her unbiased disposition had contributed in reducing cases of violence against women in the state.
Earlier, President, All for Women Initiative Nigeria (A-WIN) Comrade Comrade Stella Ilgboka called on women to gear up for greater opportunities to ensure they were more prepared, better equipped and very ready to be counted in, be Invested in for accelerated progress.
“This requires women to come together and rally around one another, even while attracting collaboration from our respected male counterparts.
“It is only by so doing will women advance in gearing up for greater opportunities, discovering and utilizing the strength that lies in togetherness,” she said.
