By Nkechi Eze
“As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and enlightened by.” – Madonna
As part of its commitment to ensuring that women in grassroots communities are not left out in the celebration of the International Women’s Day, members of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) FCT Chapter came out en mass to Empower over 200 women at the Nga’Kupi Sapeyi Palace in Garki Village, FCT.
It did not come as a surprise when Leadership of FCT Nawoj in its first outing chose to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day with the women in the community.
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
For the United Nations (UN) it is an annual event set aside to celebrate women globally.
The one week long event usually begins on the 8th of March, and this year’s theme is “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress”
This first outing for NAWOJ FCT, was tagged Inspire Inclusion: Empowering Grassroots Women, Bridging Gaps, Building Futures.
The Chairperson NAWOJ FCT, Bassey Ita Ikpang in her welcome address said “The International Women’s Day holds a special significance in our hearts, as it serves as a reminder of the countless contribution made by women in shaping our society, our nation and our world as sisters, wives and mothers”.
“In every corner of the world, there are women that possess incredible potentials, strength and resilience. Many of these women, particularly those at the grassroots level, face numerous barriers that hinder their ability to thrive and contribute fully to their communities. This formed part of the choice of our theme, even though the theme speaks of inspiring inclusion, empowering women is not just a matter of social justice, it is the essential for achieving sustainable development and fostering inclusive societies which the global theme demands” She said.
While identifying grassroots women as those who reside in rural or marginalized urban areas and often belong to economically disadvantages or minority groups, the chairperson, Bassey said “they are the backbone of their communities playing crucial roles in agriculture, small-scale businesses, caregiving and community development”.
She reiterated that despite their indispensable contributions, grassroots women are often marginalized as they face multiple forms of discrimination based on their gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status among other factors, stating that empowered women can aid in breaking the cycle of poverty while urging all to advocate for their rights and become agents of change within their communities.
“By bridging gaps and building futures, we can create a world where all women regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances, have the opportunity to thrive, contribute and lead” Bassey Said.
Senator Ita Enang, while speaking on Women and Inheritance Rights, said women are equal with men, while stating that some cultures and religious believe that women are inferior to men.
“I do not believe this, and that is not the position of the law. The law states that a woman has the same rights as a man, which is why the women had to go to Beijing to make sure their rights are enforced” He said.
He also stated that a father’s property belongs to both the male and female children, noting that it is legally binding that both genders can benefit from inheritances
Further more, he charged the Nigerian woman to take up her role in the fast changing society, noting that women are vital members of society and should fully enjoy the rights the law provides for them.
The Queen of Garki village in her welcome address thanked the Nawoj FCT leadership and its members, for bringing such an amazing opportunity to the door step of her community and urged her women to take advantage of this golden opportunity to get educated on every topic brought forth. She urged them to ask questions on whatever they do not understand for proper clarification, as it is in their own interest. She also pleaded with the Nawoj FCT not to be too far from them, as they will always appreciate more of this kind of visit.
Mrs Katherine Adunola Abimbola, Assistant Director FRCN, in her goodwill message, instructed participants on the need to check on their mental health. She advised the women to learn to live within their means especially, owing to the present economic challenges. She also enjoined women to learn to have routine medical checks and not wait till they are down before going to the hospital.
The event was an opportunity to invest and empower rural women, this is according to Sandra Udeike of FRCN, chairperson of the Organizing Committee. It is an avenue to sensitize women on the need to take preventive measures against cancer as well as enlighten them on their rights”
Speaking on Cancer Prevention and how to check for early signs, Dr. Philip Andofa gave insights and also spoke on Menopause. In same vein, Dr. Ahmed Magaji also spoke on prevention and treatment of Malaria.
Members of the Nawoj FCT also embarked on a door to door sensitization exercise to speak to those unable to join at the event venue.
The event was well attended by the women in the community. The children were not left out, as dancing competitions took place, after which gifts and food packs were distributed to all.
