International Women’s Day: Eliminating gender disparity will enhance women capabilities
International Women’s Day: Eliminating gender disparity will enhance women capabilities
International Women’s Day celebrated annually on March 8, is a day that commemorates the social, political and economic achievements of women in their respective fields.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is: “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”
Women in different parts of the world use this day to come together to celebrate one another and rally for equal treatment and representation.
Bridge Nigeria, a network of nursery and primary schools in Lagos and Osun has noted that providing every child particularly the girl child who will later become young women, an equal chance at thriving starts in the classroom.
According to a World Bank report, gender equality in Nigeria was reported as 0.3333 percent in 2020, referencing the ratio of the gross enrolment rate of girls to boys in primary and secondary education levels in both public and private schools.
Education is one of the most important aspects of human development and eliminating gender disparity at all levels of education would help to increase the status and capabilities of women.
According to Foyinsola Akinjayeju, the Managing Director at Bridge Nigeria “We must honour the potential of girls everywhere. “Every girl has the power to do anything, they just need the opportunity and a strong educational foundation. We must make sure that every child, everywhere, has an equal chance at thriving. Making sure girls have equal opportunities starts in the classroom.” She said.
Similarly, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State while commemorating the international day stressed the need for the inclusion of more women in politics and governance, noting that no society can advance progressively without women inclusion in policy making and implementation.
El-Rufai spoke on Tuesday during the flag off of the third Kaduna State Women Empowerment Fund.
Responding to why the national Assembly rejected the affirmative action provision in the constitutional amendment, El-Rufai said his administration did not wait for any constitutional amendment before it empowered lots of women in Kaduna State.
“Women are the root of humanity. If Adam was created alone, there would be no humanity, he will be alone. Humanity only began to grow when Eve was created,” he said.
“It is women that ensure the continuity of the society by imbibing the right values at the family level. When they are empowered, they look after their families. They ensure their children are educated and the nutritional quality of the family improves, so there is every reason to support women.