By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives, Tuesday joined the International Community to celebrate women and recognize the role of women as nation builders and a decisive force in the advancement of Nigeria.
The lawmakers resolved to collaborate with civil liberty groups to raise the awareness of issues affecting women and assist with solutions to address these issues.
According to them, they will focus on initiatives and develop legislation to improve women’s rights and lives, increase gender parity, and promote a society free of bias, stereotyping and discrimination.
The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Moving the motion, Onyejeocha noted that March 8 every year has been set aside by the United Nations as the global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
She said that the United Nation’s theme for this year’s observance is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, which appropriately captures the fundamental nature of women’s role in nation building and the need to develop it.
She pointed out that presently, Nigerian women still suffer from issues of discrimination, abuse and stereotyping, in the home, workplace and in public.
She opined that the low awareness of the contributions of women to the nation’s development, coupled with the inattention to the negative results arising from discrimination to women will consequently discourage women from contributing meaningfully to the nation.
Onyejeocha said, “Aware that women have always been essential and their actions decisive in the development of Nigeria from pre-colonial times to the present day. Further aware: That Nigeria’s traditional, religious, socio-economic and political content has enjoyed the robust contributions of such Memorable women as Queen Amina of Zaria, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the late Dr. Dora Akunyili, and our past and present First Ladies, including the late Maryam Babangida.
“Believes that the House of Representatives, National Assembly and indeed the Federal Government of Nigeria can recognize the impact of women on the development of the nation and protect and advance the cause of women generally”.
