News Editor
The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, has urged women to set up a campaign that would bring together people of every gender, ethnicity, religion and nationality to drive actions to create a gender equal world.
Ugwuanyi made the call while x-raying the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow: Breaking the bias”, at a Seminar in Enugu, on Wednesday.
The event was organized by the State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development and Office of the Wife of the Governor to commemorate the annual international event.
She stressed that “without gender equality today, there would not be sustainable and gender equality tomorrow”, pointing out the need to use gender inclusive language as a powerful way to promote gender equality and eradicate gender bias.
“When you want to speak or write, do that in a way that will not discriminate against a particular sex, social gender, or gender identity.
“Once we start with that, sooner or later it will be trendy. For instance use chairman instead of chairlady, lawyer not female lawyer, the police and not policeman or policewoman.
“More so, when our daughters want to study a particular course like STEM courses, do not discourage them by saying that it is a male course; Please allow them to study whatever course they want,” she said.
The governor’s wife said that parents, teachers and mothers should begin early to work against gender bias by involving their children in the same tasks and activities.
According to her, avoid being overprotective of the girl child. Over protection of female children may not allow them to develop their full potentials or may even make them feel incapable of doing certain things in future.
“Always strive to bring women to community, national and international decision making which will give them opportunity to change the narratives and close the gaps threatening gender equality in our society.
“We should keep supporting girl child education, women in leadership, and equal pay, and above all support their voices and eliminate all forms of violence against them.
“Also, we should endeavour to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction, especially women in agriculture,” she advised.
Ugwuanyi said, “Your extraordinary contributions spark social, economic, cultural and political achievements towards our different families, society and country in general.
Ugwuanyi equally lauded the Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development, Princess Peace Nnaji, and all those that made the event a reality “for all the remarkable triumphs and unmatched fearlessness”.
She told them that “despite gender inequalities across all sectors, you continue to thrive and beat the odds”, stressing: “I will continue to celebrate women because we are the reason for the sustainable tomorrow we all yearn for”.
In her remarks, Nnaji applauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being gender sensitive and appointing many women into government positions, including the first female Deputy Governor of Enugu State in person of Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo and the first female Chief Judge of the State who retired recently.
She further lauded Mrs Ugwuanyi for her kindness and passion for the protection and wellbeing of the women, girl child and children as well as being a helpmate to her husband in the onerous task of delivering good governance to the people of the state.
