ByPRISCA SAM DURU

Poets recently at the United States Consulate, Lagos, rose unanimously against violence metted out on women all over the world. The platform was ReaditLoud, a reading programme designed by the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the US Consulate for writers to read and discuss their writing with fellow writers, with the view to making positive impact on the society.

The November edition focused on “International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women/ 16 Days Campaign.” This programme was as interesting as it was sensitising due to its theme which in no less a manner, elicited an urgent need to redress issues negatively affecting women around the globe.

Through poems which either chronicles the ill treatments women and the girl child receive or those written in defense of the female folks, were read to the admiration of the audience.

My Pride by Omoteleola Vera-Cruz, A letter to Suzzie by Olalekan Alao, Happiness Is The Name They Call Me by Eugenia Agbakwuru, and many more, were the poems employed to send distress call to Nigeria, Africa and the entire world to stop every form of violence against women. It was emphasised that people should be mindful of the fact that whatever touches the women, touches the society negatively.

The Director, Whitney M Young Information Resource Center PAS, US Consulate General, Samuel Eyitayo, stated that the essence of the theme was to see how “As a nation, we can stop violence against women” On the issue of domestic violence, advised young individuals hoping to go into marriage some day, to ensure they avoid looking at the ephemeral but go into the process of marriage according to laid down instruction by God who created the institution of marriage.

That way he explained, they would have successful marriages. In as much as some cultures give men the audacity to lord things over their women leading to domestic violence, Eyitayo advised men to see their partners as precious beings who deserve to be loved and appreciated. Commitment, understanding and love are what he prescribed for vibrant homes.

On their part, the writers regretted that inspite of modernisation, some cultural practices such as girl child marriage, education of only male children and worse of them all, girl child circumcision are still being practiced.

NGOs they opined, should be reorientated to be responsible and responsive to their duty towards addressing the plight of women. Some of the participants lamented that 80% of NGOs in the country are inactive. The Poets accused them of just idling, waiting for donor’s fund before taking action or rendering voice to the oppressed. They however called on all NGOs to be united in a common course to make positive impact on the society.

The writers who harped on girl child education which was noted as the foundation for a brighter future of children, called on the government to ensure that relevant laws are put in place and offenders in cases such as rape, battering etc, are brought to book.

The reading event presented yet another opportunity to call for the unconditional release of the over 200 school girls abducted from a school in Chibok community, Borno State. Regarding this issue, the poets regretted that while people appear tired of asking for the release of the school girls, more and more are being abducted and maimed by Boko Haram sect.