This year International Women’s Day was celebrated at Federal Might House, Gudu, the Federal Capital Territory Secretariat of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU).
The celebrations included women from all the affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). It was chaired by Comrade Alhassan Yakubu Abubakar, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), FCT Chapter who stood in for Comrade Lawrence Amaechi, the NLC FCT Chair. The occasion was put together by the NLC FCT Council Women’s Committee and the program of the day included the presentation of three papers which are described below.
The first paper was presented by Comrade Joy Okoro and was on Attitudinal Change in the Present Dispensations. The second and third papers were presented by Comrade Elizabeth Okonmah, on Breast Cancer, and Comrade Esther Ogunfowora on Glaucoma (an eye disease which can eventually cause blindness).
In her welcome address the Chair of the NLC FCT Women’s Committee, Comrade Fibi T Haruna said March 8th of every year is set aside for International Women’s Day all over the world. It is used for women to brainstorm on the plight of women globally. She said that this day provides women with the opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another, develop ideas on positive and coordinated manners in which women are faring.
She also said the day availed women the rare privilege of tackling issues affecting women globally. It also allowed the development of position papers on the way forward and how women can positively impact themselves and society at large.
The theme for this year was “Pledge for Parity”. This, Fibi T Haruna, said was apt at this point in time when the disparity between women and their male counterparts was on the increase daily. This was despite various charters and treaties on gender parity.
She therefore called on women all over the world to rise up in unison and unequivocally demand gender parity. Fibi T Haruna equally advised women not to relent on their efforts to explore all necessary means to press home their demand for parity.
She gave a clarion call to women advocacy groups, government and non-governmental organizations to step up to the challenges ahead. She used the opportunity to sensitized the affiliate Unions/women committees to start playing active role in women’s issues within their respective State Councils.
– Peter Adejobi
