This term is preferred. Nails it compared to Gender equalization and empowerment which is more general and cosmetized. Affirmative ACTION is urgently needed to enable our women catch up. In other words “equalize”
Foreign citizen spouses of Nigeria’s daughters certainly deserve automatic citizenship, rights and appurtenances thereto.
Office of Equal Opportunity for Women needed. Recall, Lyndon Baines Johnson, August 1964, signed the Equal Opportunity Act. Part of the jumbo reforms under the “Great Society ” Program. This Nigerian Office unlike that of the United States’ will be specific to women when created.
Reserve Jobs Quota for Women and address issues of Job discrimination and the likes against our Women. Our Women suffer work place discrimination and harassment, unequal pay for equal work, blames, stigmatization and poor prosecutions for rape and assault.
Early Child Marriages with attendant Birth Injuries and sequelae including Vesico-Vaginal fistulae.Ditto Female Genital Mutilation.Poor and neglected post delivery/Maternity Welfare including near absence of enforced & legalized Maternity Leave especially in the Private Sector.
Poor Obstetrical care, Abysmal Maternal and Infant Mortality data. Scapegoating,goading and ridicule of unmarried ladies.Discrimination in Educational opportunities and advancement. Promotion denials and low ambition stereotyping. Non validation and dismissal of accomplishments.
Erosion of Communal and Self Dignity. Displacement and Denial of Political Spaces, thus being shut out from Nation Building and the general Polity. Women bear an undue burden of Poverty, Ignorance, Disease, Inequality and Societal Sociological Abuse.
Deprioritization in Budgetary allocations to Social Security vis Education, Health, Poverty Reduction and Safe Drinking Water, Environmental Sanitation and Public Hygiene. Nigeria top globally in Open defecation.
Abandonment of the Girl Child. Denigration,Neglect& Abuse.Non State Participation in Girls’ Menstrual Hygiene and Care vis provisions of Menstrual pads in Schools, Universities & Public places. For the Nigerian Girl Child frequent glorification and validation of the “Boy”sibling.
I, end by saluting the great Women in our History: Madam Nwanyeruwa and her group who led the Aba Women riots, Margaret Ekpo, Janet Mokelu, Oyibo Odinamadu, Flora Nwapa Nwakuche, And Queen Moremi, Madam Tinubu,Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, And Professors Grace Alele Williams and Salami,
Lady Ladi Kwali, Hajia Gambo Sawaba, And Queen Amina. And great Distinguished colleagues of the 9th Nigerian Senate, Uche Ekwunife, Stella Oduah, Akon Eyakenyi, Betty Jocelyne Apiafi, Rose Okoji Oko, Oluremi Tinubu, Abiodun Olujimi, HE Aisha Binani (incoming), Nora Ladi Dadu’ut.
