Edith CHUKU
The Rivers State deputy governor, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu, has explained that the International Women’s Day IWD, was set aside by the United Nations to celebrate women.
She said it was also used as a catalyst to propel affirmative actions for certain things to be done and done properly by everybody.
Odu stated this during the 2024 International Women’s Day Celebration at the Women Development and Skills Acquisition Centre, Ministry of Women Affairs in Port Harcourt on Friday.
She stressed that “it is important that we look at a way of encouraging women, inspire them to excel in our male dominated society. We have to do something to prop up the women.”
Odu added that women were “not competing with the men but partners in progress” and called for the empowerment of women in the society.
According to the deputy governor, “the theme of this year’s event which is to invest in women, accelerates progress, shows that women are key. If you want to succeed, having only the men is one leg, but having the women added to the man is two legs and they would run faster.
“Some women are trading and training their children in the university we need to learn how to invest in those women, some are single parents and needs to fend for the family, we also need to invest in them and even the ones going to the higher institutions so that everybody can be carried along.”
She noted that the governor Siminalayi Fubara’s led administration was intentional about creating opportunities to enable women to grow.
According to the deputy governor, “investing in women is a deliberate policy that can translate into significant social and economic benefits to the society. From the appointments made by the Governor, one can tell that he is taking the right steps in the right direction.
“Look at the women he is appointing the impact will trickle down below, and most recently Hon. Justice Mary Odili, she is a woman that has been involved in the components of government.
“I believe that through the Ministry of Women Affairs many things will come the way of women, and the Governor’s wife is very excited about doing something for the women.
“This year’s theme is a way of pushing all of us including me that are in leadership positions to do something for the women. I believe that as this government progresses you will begin to see more things unfold for the women”. Prof. Odu quipped.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, said women from time immemorial have been known to be great pillars for achieving remarkable heights, stressing that everyone irrespective of their gender deserves to be heard.
According to her, “the annual event provides women a platform to address economic inclusion, the limited participation in political and public life, lack of access to education for the girl child, gender based violence, child trafficking, harmful cultural practices and other challenges facing the African women.
“This year’s celebration affords them the opportunity to reflect on progressive achievements and opportunity to call for change and celebrate acts of courage made by ordinary women.”
