By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja
It was a new dawn on Saturday, March 9, 2024, as members of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, (NAWoJ) FCT Chapter trooped out in their numbers to put smiles across the faces of over 200 women at the Nga’Kupi Sapeyi Palace in Garki Village, FCT as part of activities marking the 2024 International Women’s Day. Ruth Tene Natsa was there for EarthNews Media… Excerpts
Phylicia Rashad it was who said “Any time women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing. Whether it’s sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens”.
It was therefore not a wonder that magic happened at the Garki community in Abuja when the leadership of the Association it is inaugural outing chose to celebrate the International Women’s Day (IWD) with the community.
The IWD is the United Nations annual event set aside to celebrate women globally.The event which is usually a week long event commences March 8, with the theme for this year being “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”
For the NAWOJ FCT, this was the leadership inaugural outing tagged Inspire Inclusion: Empowering Grassroots Women, Bridging Gaps, Building Futures,
In her welcome remarks Chairperson NAWoJ FCT, Bassey Ita Ikpang said “The International Women’s Day holds a special significance in our hearts, as it serves as a reminder of the countless contributions 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,” Bassey said
The Chairperson said”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 essential for achieving sustainable development and fostering inclusive societies which the global theme demands”
She Identified grassroots women as those who reside in rural or marginalized urban areas and often belong to economic disadvantages or minority groups, Bassey said “They are the backbone of their communities playing crucial roles in agriculture, small-scale businesses, caregiving, and community development”
She maintained that despite their invaluable contributions, grassroots women are often marginalized as they face multiple forms of discrimination based on their gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status among other factors adding that when women are empowered they can break the cycle of poverty, advocate for their rights and become agents of change within their communities.
Bassey urged that for the above to happen, grassroots women must have access to quality education, have access to legal reforms to access their rights to lands, property, and justice as well as having them included in leadership decision-making processes at all levels.
Ms Bassey maintained that 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.
Also speaking on Women and Inheritance Rights, Senator Ita Enang said women are equal to men noting that some cultures and religions believe that women are inferior to men
I do not believe and that is not the position of the law. The law is that a woman has the same rights as a man, and that is why the women had to go to Beijing to make sure their rights were enforced
He informed that a father’s properties belong to both the male and female children noting that it is legally binding that both genders can benefit from inheritances
He further charged the Nigerian woman to take up her role in the fast-changing society noting that women were vital members of society and should fully enjoy the rights the law provides for them.
Assistant Director in FRCN, Katherine Adunola Abimbola, tasked participants with checking on their mental health by learning to live within their means given present economic challenges and urged women to learn to have medical checks and not wait until they are down before running to the hospitals.
For the chairperson of the IWD Organising Committee, Sandra Udeike of the FRCN, the event was an opportunity to invest and empower rural women.
She said the event was” an avenue to sensitize women on the need for preventive measures against cancer as well as enlighten them on their rights”
Dr Philip Andofa provided insights into cancer prevention strategies, while Mr Ahmed Magaji shared valuable information on malaria prevention and treatment.
Highlights of activities were the sensitization walk by members, gifting of food packs to community members, dancing, and more dancing among others