- Advocates for enhanced women’s empowerment, inclusion in family, societal development
The Noble President, Ladies of St. Mulumba (LSM) Nigeria, Lady Ngozi Obah has called for concerted efforts to accelerate women’s empowerment and development in homes and the society at large. Marking International Women’s Day 2024, the Noble President in her address acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Nigerian women, while emphasising the urgent need for women to be empowered in all life endeavours.
She said, “The theme of this year’s celebration is Inspire Inclusion – to the women, inspire inclusion; to the men, inspire inclusion of the woman; to the wider society, inspire inclusion of the woman in all areas of human endeavour and existence and to women, encourage yourselves by inclusion. What are we talking about, it is the innate recognition that women ought to be and should be included in all human endeavours – political, cultural, democratic, religious and education sectors – planning, strategising, brainstorming, creating, executing, implementing and benefiting for the general good of all.”
The LSM President recommended an all-inclusive involvement of women in running family affairs, arguing that “Non-inclusion of the woman diminishes her worth and dignity and generates stress on the man, which leads to low longevity on the part of the men.” She implored the men to grant their spouses comprehensive roles in managing their homes. “This is a reminder to men to include women in the holistic running of the family affairs. The honest, transparent and full inclusion of the woman in the family redefines the structural base of the family, it positions the woman for responsibility; it develops mutual planning and execution of all family visions, projects and investment.
It creates room for commitment and responsibility in building the family into a home. “It gives a sense of belonging and responsibility to a woman, thereby positioning her to bring out the best in her, knowing fully well that the influence a woman has in a home determines the overall good of the home. The disregard and non-inclusion of the woman places heavy responsibility on the man and makes him a lone planner, executor and carrier of family responsibilities. Non-inclusion of the woman diminishes her worth and dignity and generates stress on the man which leads to low longevity on the part of the men. When responsibilities are shared, it makes room for mutual understanding and growth.”
Lady Obah advised the women to inspire themselves and drive towards inclusion in all affairs of the family both at the nuclear and extended family structures. She noted, “African societies are known to run the extended family organogram. Women are called to advocate for their full incorporation in taking decisions at all levels of the family. It calls for involvement, contribution of ideas, implementation and harnessing the potentials and benefits of mutual inclusion. Women are called to establish the enabling grounds and reasons for inclusion, plan and initiate ideas, and projects that will uplift the image of the human and infrastructural development in the family and society at large.”
The high-ranking lay leader noted that the women’s participation in politics in the country is low. “With the current figure of women representation in our National Assembly, Nigeria remains at the bottom of the list in the ranking for the number of women in African parliaments. “The 10th Assembly has only 3 women occupying 3 out of 109 seats (2.7%) in the Senate and 17 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives (4.7%) which represents 4.2% of the 469 Member Assembly. In the 9th National Assembly, there were 8 female Senators (7.3%) and 13 female members of the House of Representatives (3.6%) which represents 4.5% of the entire Assembly.”
On the way forward, she said, “As women mark this year’s women’s day all over, let women nurture the idea of inspiring inclusion in higher places of authority. “Time has come for a woman to contest and win presidential positions and be encouraged to rule, the aspiration of a woman being the Speaker in the different political houses of representations is very much in place. “Women should inspire themselves to occupy strategic and apex positions. It is a call and it is achievable. Women should in the history of Nigeria be inspired to become administrators, high ranking rulers and occupy high portfolio placed positions and offices in the political space.
No one is yet to beat the landmark achievements and feats of Prof. Dora Akunyili in NAFDAC.” Lady Obah further advocated that women should be included in societal development, especially in matters of developmental planning, vision and establishments. According to her, the inclusion of women on social development will put them on line to contribute and share ideas on how to help move the society forward. “Women are known to be good organisers, planners and astute executors of plans. The inclusion of women will drive innovation and collaboration that will propel movement towards development”, she remarked.
