By Anino Aganbi

The observance of the first International women’s day has witnessed a transformation in women’s legal right, educational achievements and participation in public life. In all regions, countries have expanded women’s legal entitlements. Although women have stepped up their game by exercising leadership in politics and business, surviving childbirth and planning their families, educating the girl child; the low representation of women in leadership in public and private sector still persists.

Speaking at the event, Chief Mrs. Beatrice Ubeku said that the International women’s day is an important day to reflect on the many accomplishments of women. She stated that “Today, we use the occasion to further the course of Nigerian women in our continued struggle for equal representation in Nigeria’s economic and socio- political decision making processes.

This informs our spotlight for this years’ event ‘Empowering women, Empowering humanity, picture it” to highlight the Beijing Declaration and platform for action, over twenty years ago a treaty on the roadmap sets the agenda for the realization of the women’s right.

In no doubt, we can boldly note some of these achievements but the gaps remain. This is the time to uphold women’s achievement , celebrate it, recognize its challenges and focus greater attention on women’s right and gender equality by ensuring all areas are jointly mobilized for inclusive leadership roles’ in Nigeria’s economic and socio political decision making processes.”

Mrs Ngcuka stated that “ At the fourth world conference on women in Beijing in 1995, world leaders committed to a future where women are equal. Women left Beijing with high hope, with a well defined path towards equality, and a firm commitment at the highest level. Their hope was that we would see this by 2005. Today, not one single country has achieved equality.

Dr. Angela Daniel, Program Director, Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (WEAN) stated that “Aligning with UN Women’s Theme for this year, “Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it…” WAWA and partnering organisations are working out women empowerment programmes for the post-2015 years, and uses this opportunity to solicit the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the efforts to achieve gender equality in Nigeria.

Gender equality refers to equality of rights and opportunities between women and men, a situation in which women and men enjoy equal rights and opportunities in a way that the potentials, aspirations, needs, and behavior’s of women and men are equally valued and favoured, can only be achieved through women’s full participation in political and public life to promote and protect the interests of women and girls.”

She also said that “As the world define a new global development framework in 2015, Nigerian women must not be found missing in this new development framework. It is very clear that women’s organizations, political parties, women themselves, and the media need to play vital roles in the efforts to dismantle barriers to gender equality, but women’s organisations are the arbiters.  

The role of women’s organisations is the most critical of all the strategies to dismantle barriers to women’s participation in political and public life. Until the women decide, and step out of their comfort zones to take their rightful positions in the nation’s economic and socio-political spheres, the men will continue to hold forth. That is the essence of The Strategies To Achieve Gender Equality for Women Forum(The STAGE for Women Forum), which WAWA and partnering organisations have embarked on.