8th March, 2018
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), an NGO, have called on Nigerians to press for women equality to bridge the gender gap.
FIDA made the call through its representative Mrs Blessing Eboh, while delivering a paper entitled; “Fundamentals for Progress for Nigerian Women’’ at a seminar organised by LAPO on Thursday in Abuja.
The seminar was organised to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD), a global event to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The 2018 global theme is “Press for Progress.’’
Eboh defined gender equality as the equal contribution of women and men to every dimension of life, whether private or public.
She said that although women equality could not be achieved overnight, there was strong global momentum striving for it through advocacy, activism and support.
“We cannot be complacent, now more than ever, there is a strong call to action to press forward,’’ Eboh said.
She also said that progress was a continuous thing that Nigerian women should push for continually, adding that they should not renege on their rights but be aware and demand for them.
Eboh said that women had rights to economic and social welfare, health and reproductive rights, rights to education and training, and right to inheritance.
She also said that they had rights to access justice and equal protection under the law, right to elimination of harmful practices, culture and discrimination and right to end violence against women.
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Mr Ogbuagu Basil, Abuja Regional Officer, LAPO, said that the IWD was a yearly celebration taken seriously to educate and sensitise women on the year’s theme.
“We are looking at a society where women will be enlightened so that they can identify and demand for their rights.
“There are issues that are going on in our society that so many women do not know, yet they have rights that should be exercised in every aspect in the community, especially some cultures that inhibit women.
“We also need to ensure that women are given the opportunity to participate in politics, governance should involve women and they should participate in all sectors of the economy.”
He said that the organisation had trained women in financial literacy and micro business, to educate them on how to manage their businesses and make profits.
The Day, which is celebrated all over the world on March 8, was first commemorated in 1911.