By Kingsley Agim
Cross River governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has expressed his administration’s preparedness to partner with the UN Women to abolish harmful cultural practices against women as well as other gender based issues in the state in order to entrench a more gender equitable society.
The governor, who made the commitment at the UN Women and Partners Open ‘Day Event’ held recently in Calabar, South-South, Nigeria, stressed that any culture that is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience must be abolished.
Represented at the event by his Special Adviser on General Duties, Akiba Ekpenyong, Esq, the Governor maintained that the issue of gender equality is not merely a feminist agenda, but a fundamental human right concern, saying “we must all come together to ensure that women are given equal opportunities to hold leadership positions and contribute their quota to state and national development.”
“In Cross River state today, UN Women and partners are driving serious advocacy for women, emancipation, education, empowerment, political liberation and inclusion. I am so happy that UN Women and Partners’ interventions are shaping modern day cultures. I congratulate the UN Women for traversing difficult terrains of Cross River state and breaking women free from the shackles of traditional and cultural stereotypes and practices and aligning them to modernity.
“When women are empowered, every other sector will be empowered. And the example is very evident in Cross River state, because we have very active women in politics holding top leadership positions in government. The Commissioners for Sports Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Housing Development, Social Welfare, and Establishment, Training and Pensions, and several other appointees are women. Our administration is very intentional about empowering women to bring the desired impact to the state and country,” Otu remarked.
He informed the UN Women and partners that the First Lady, Rev Mrs Eyoanwan Bassey, through her pet project, Humanity Without Borders, is championing humanitarian causes throughout the state, ranging from child’s right, women empowerment, orientation and capacity building across the state and country.
While re-echoing his delight at the University Women and partners strides in Cross River and his administration’s commitment to partner with the organization, the governor pledged that in the coming local government elections in the state, women would be accorded the due opportunity to contest for and hold leadership positions in the state.
He assured that Cross River would continue to be a role model in the comity of Nigerian states towards the entrenchment of a gender-balanced society.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, Country Representative to UN Women Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the event afforded the zonal coordination mechanism participants from the six states of the south-south the time to look at how to further promote coherence, accountability and sustainability for the region.
“We have also had a sensitization on Gender Responsive Planning and Budgeting for principal officers of the south-south coordination mechanism made up of principal officer of the state’s ministries of women affairs, the networks and coalitions to increase appreciation for deliberate gender responsible planning and budgeting that address the needs of women, men, boys and girls,” she posited.
The UN Women representative stated that the ‘Open Day’ was a new initiative by UN Women and her partners, aimed at making visible UN Women and Partners’ work, advocate and solicit political commitments from the state governor, legislator and other critical stakeholders towards advancing women representation, governance and leadership.
“The ‘Open Day’ is also providing opportunity for UN Women partners and beneficiaries to share first and success stories/positive impacts, gaps and challenges as well as also reflect on where more action is required and strengthen partnership and collaboration to expand our reach and impacts,” Eyong added.
Also speaking, the Dean of Nigerian Commissioners for Women Affairs, Dr. Ini Adiakpan, said gender development stakeholders across the country will continue to maximize the existing structures such as women in politics, wives of traditional rulers, women holding political offices, etc, to sensitize and strengthen advocacy on the need for women inclusion in governance, politics and empowerment, noting that without economic empowerment of women, there would be no significant involvement in leadership activities.
Dr. Adiakpan, who is also the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs, noted that with the vast majority of women in Nigeria still living below the poverty line, collaborative efforts must be strengthened towards the socio-economic development of women in Nigeria.
Articulating his views, the Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, His Royal Majesty, Uchua Amos Item, expressed high praise for UN Women, testifying that through interventions by the UN Women and partners, the draconian ‘money marriage’ practice, female genital mutilation and several other barbaric cultures are now been repealed.
He appealed to UN Women and partners to assist Obanliku local government area and other parts of the state in the fight against the traditional prohibition of female inheritance still holding sway in various communities of the state.
Many other beneficiaries spoke in splendid terms of the huge impact interventions from the UN Women have made on communities in Cross River, calling for more focus against other atrocious practices to further better the society.
Peoplesmind
