Oiwona Launches Two Books

 

NEWS

 

WOMEN MUST HAVE AN EQUAL VOICE, RIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES – COMRADE EHIMUAN

 

By Leo Ezekiel

Speaking as the chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Edo State Chapter on International Women’s Day at Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Edo State Council, State Secretariat, Oba Oguola Press Centre, Benin – City, Edo State Comrade Adesuwa Ehimuan stated that women must have an equal voice, rights and opportunities throughout their lives adding that the International Women’s Day Celebration on 8^th March every year is purely to honour women, salute their courage, celebrate their successes and as well as raise awareness about women’s equality. She stated that the 2021 Theme: “Choose to Challenge” largely aimed to highlight and also recognize the achievements of women and critically highlight the issues and problems women are still facing in their respective lives.

Speaking again to the gathering Comrade Ehimuan stated that this 2021 conference organized by Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Edo State in collaboration with Edo State Agency for the control of Aids (Edo SACA) and as well as Caring Heart Initiative (CHIADE) with the topics women in leadership Achieving an Equal Future in covid-19 as she added that women must have the opportunity to play a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made right now as nations respond to the recovery and second wave of covid-19 pandemic. The chairperson of NAWOJ Comrade Ehimuan stated that choices that would affect the wellbeing of people and the planed for generations to come, that in doing this, they the women must break down the deep-seated historic, cultural and socio-economic banners that had prevented women from taking their seat at the decision making table so as to make sure that resources and power sharing are more equitably distributed.

 

Speaking to the gathering in her words, the chairperson of (NAWOJ) Edo State Chapter Comrade Ehimuan (A change is required and is also essential in the relationship between the two. Both women and men have to change their ways of working, attitude and social norms, to ensure both are equal, empowered and dignified women have to be given an equal voice, rights and opportunities throughout their lives and poorest and most excluded groups in society, such as women, the elderly and persons living with disabilities and with HIV and AIDS. She generally appreciated the Edo State Government the vibrant and technocratic leadership of His Excellency, Executive Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki and his very dedicated Deputy Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu for their supports towards women as she added that in the last dispensation over 500 women were given appointments in the state.

 

In rounding off, her heavily researched welcome address, she raised her voice in praise of women (women are great, no controversy, train a woman, train a nation). The International Women’s Day conference lined up various qualified women speakers who largely kept the audience spell bound with the styles employed in the delivery of the various topics while the conference lasted. One of such speakers was Efosa Uyigue, former special Adviser on Gender to Edo State Governor.

 

She largely and intelligently handled the subject Gender Based Violence, how it can be curbed in the face of covid-19 as she stated that it has been widely reported that many nations are experiencing and alarming rates of violence, exploitation and other abuses, especially intimate partner among women and girls, as she continued to real off that during times of crisis women and girls face on increased risk of exposure to Gender Based Violence (GBV).

 

She stressed that there is an increased global awareness of the need to address GBV in crisis affected setting, its prevalence is very difficult to determine, as a large number of cases go unreported. Speaking again, the former Special Adviser on Gender Issues to Edo State Governor stated that there are many factors that contribute to GBV as it is majorly rooted in gender inequalities at the societal level as well as harmful social norms that discriminate against women and girls when these factors are combined with lockdown the homes within the context of covid-19.

She generally preferred solutions that could be employed to curb gender-based violence targeted at women and girls. Speaking as the guest speaker the massive former reporter Observer Newspaper, Benin City, Edo state, the Executive Director, OSSNO Centre, Sabina Idowu Osehobo said that covid-19 pandemic has in all ramifications brought advantages to all and sundry but, largely to women adding that the covid-19 pandemic has made all persons to participate at zoom meetings once the attendee is technologically trained. She said that should be end of all forms of discriminations against women and as well as end of all forms of violence against women and girls. She said that online conferences could be attended from the comfort of one living room without asking one with travelling papers, visa, BTA et al.

 

She said that unfortunately women do not show love and unity amongst themselves whereas with their creations women are supposed to display an uncommon love to fellow women in all circumstances as she added that women out number men in all events, be it a church service, church crusade, funeral ceremonies, wedded et al but, again, she lamented that women generally do not vote for their women folks during electioneering period.  She profusely appealed to women to always support their women folks in all fronts because women need to occupy important spaces in the decision-making role of any given nation and she stated that no bird flies with only one wing, but a bird flies with two wings, therefore all women must be united with purposes of participation in all sphere of human endeavours.