In commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day, Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd, a London and Abuja-based publisher of professional books and peer-reviewed academic journals, on Wednesday held a virtual event to celebrate the roles of women in National Development.
The event, themed ‘Women, Arts, Education and National Development,’ which was moderated by the company’s Business Development Manager, Joan McDappa had dignitaries from different walks of the society in attendance.
Guest speaker, Ibilola S. Owolabi, Girl Child Education and Women’s Rights Advocate, who harped on The Roles Of Women in Education, averred that “Without investing in women and girls it will not be possible to achieve the Global Goals”.
According to her, educating women will help reduce gender inequalities. She lamented that “For a very long time, girls have comprised the largest proportion of children that have been unable to access education”.
In her words, “The education of women is the most effective means for reducing the inequalities between men and women and guaranteeing the full participation of women in the socio-economic development process.”
She quipped that women are needed in “decision-making spaces in social, economic and political spheres for Africaʼs development”.
The rights advocate stated that women who have made remarkable contributions should be celebrated.
Another speaker, Princess N. Ibeh, actress, writer, and an art enthusiast, who centered her presentation on the roles of women in the arts industry, faulted gender issues in the sector.
Focusing on films, the actress stated that ‘it is an industry that is predominantly males,’ but, however, quipped that more women are now gaining ground ‘and it is a breath of fresh air’.
She stated that men often nail successful women in the sector to one anomaly or the other. “They have this stereotype that if you’re a woman and you’re doing so well, you have to be servicing somebody or you have a god-father or you have a big God”.
Princess succinctly stated that there are women, who work hard to get to where they are and should be given credit and celebrated, adding that “women in films are going places”.
To be able to make waves in the sector, which already had ‘stiff competition between men,’ she said “we have to try our best to stand out”.
On her part, Lilian Dawha, Development Practitioner, Women Rights Advocate & Livelihood Analyst, harped on the Importance of Women in National Development.
The Rights Advocate, who bemoaned the deteriorating state of insecurity in the North, particularly in Maiduguri, stated that women and children are the most affected.
She noted that women need to be empowered to be able to contribute to national development. In her words, empowering a woman means empowering the society, opining that the roles of women in national development cannot be overemphasized.
