BACKERS OF WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
By Adewale Busari, Lagos

December 15, 2003 – (P.M. News - Lagos) Women under the auspices of Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), in collaboration with Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), gathered in Ijebu-Ode recently to chart the way forward for Nigerian women.

For so long, women in Nigeria, have been complaining of marginalisation in the socio-political and economic sphere of the country. In the beginning, it was as if men were their enemies who were depriving them of the basic necessities of life.

Over time, researchers brought to the fore, the fact that there is an inherent factor militating against gender equality, despite visible contributions of both women of old and the present generation to the ascension of men to higher offices and the development of the nation in general.

Several workshops organised by women non-governmental organisations recognise the need for the society to accord equal recognition to women and men, with a view to moving women from the stereotype of confinement to kitchen, to engaging actively in policy formation and decision making in matters that affect both men and women.

The need to move from theoretical stage to a more active strategy was highlighted in one of the seminars organised by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC). The resource persons, participants and WARDC's Executive Director, Mrs. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, agreed that it was high time women moved from the affirmative action which requested for 30 per cent of the opportunity for women, to a more decisive role. Women are encouraged to participate fully in politics and influence certain government policies, to enhance gender balance.

Showing more seriousness this time, the civil society, advocating the rights of women under the leadership of Justice Development and Peace
Commission (JDPC), in collaboration with Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), is set to provide legal backing for women agitation.

Supported by Director of JDPC, Rev. Father John Patrick Ngoyi, the women want to establish a basis to be able to claim and enforce their rights, taking Ogun State of Nigeria as a case study.

According to Mrs. Abiola Afolabi Akinyode, because of the disposition of the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) to the issue of gender equality, the NGOs are sponsoring a bill before the state House of Assembly which will facilitate women's rights in the state.

The bill, titled "Gender Mainstreaming Bill in Ogun State," is going to be presided over by Mrs. Oseni, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, with the support of the number 2 citizen in the state who is also a woman.

According to the convener of the meeting, the consultative meeting in Ijebu-Ode was part of efforts to promote international mechanism for the protection of women's human rights having noted that women have not been integrated into governance in Nigeria, which according to them has impeded the country's economic growth.

Participants were drawn mainly from the academic community, the media and civil society. In attendance were the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Women Affairs and a representative from the Ministry of Women Affairs. They all converged to create a society in which women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunity, and bear the same responsibilities in all areas of life, as well as making gender integration and equality part of the activities and decision making of the government.

Leading the pack of resource persons was Professor (Mrs.) Yemisi Erinoso, Dr. Patrick Edewor, Dr. Justus Sokefun, Dr. Sherifdeen Tella and Mr. Eniola Sokefun all from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye (OOU). Mr. Gbenga Gbesan, Mrs. Funmi Balogun-Alexander and Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi came from the civil society.

According to Professor Erinoso, the gathering was set out to rescue the future generation of women from discrimination or oppression which the society has subjected the present generation of women to. From her paper, which focused on education and women in Ogun State, Prof. Erinoso said the meeting was aimed at advancing advocacy and designing a lobbying strategy to call on government for a serious consideration of the formation of legislation on women's rights and restructuring of governance structure, to support the integration or mainstreaming of women, in order to provide a critical avenue from which change can be initiated, to give women better relevance in the scheme of decisions in the state.

According to her, it is sad to observe that despite the fact that today's women have excelled in their chosen fields, men still overwhelmingly outnumber women at the management/decision making organs of various critical institutions in Ogun State and the country in general.

Citing Articles 3,7,11,13 and 14 of CEDAW treaty which Nigeria is a signatory, Prof. Erinoso said discrimination against women, both in the socio-economic and political spheres in Nigeria must be eliminated in order to bring about social changes and new approaches to leadership, as well as redressing the proliferation of social and economic problems that stagnate development.

To empower women for the task ahead, she suggested that government create an enabling environment to increase women access to education up to the highest level and women involvement in science and technical education, as well as making provisions for women who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, to continue their educational career.

In his paper, Mr. Gbenga Gbesan ascribed the negative media report on women to the influence of patriarchy and stereotype culture which glorify men above women counterpart. Other areas identified are dominance of men in the industry as well as the ownership of structure which does not favour women. He charged women to emulate the likes of Chief (Mrs.) H.I.D. Awolowo, Titi Ajanaku, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, who climbed the ladder because they did not concur with cultural restraints,and political impediments in the patriarchal society.

Recognising the need for restraints, Mr. Gbenga Gbesan said a healthy balance must be struck between the changing perspectives of women and maintaining good and enabling values, since community stability depends on family stability. Specifically, he urged women to manage whatever success they get through gender mainstreaming, for the benefit of homes and society at large.

Dr. Patrick Edewor of the Department of Sociology, OOU, x-rayed the state government attitude to health institutions and concluded that it adds more burden to the plight of women since most of the institutions are either not enough or ill-equipped. He advocated that primary health care units be established in the rural areas to increase women's access to basic health care.

According to him, women are 'health managers,' because of their involvement in domestic work which includes sweeping, drawing water, fetching firewood and their involvement as care-givers especially for the sick. These skills they acquire through socialisation and experience. He concluded that there must be a general attitudinal change towards the female gender and that all forms of gender discrimination against women must be eradicated. Women must be given equal access to education, to enhance their economic empowerment, economic independence and a more egalitarianrelationship in terms of decision making to liberate them from traditional roles that predispose them to the health hazards emanating from the biophysical environment in which they work.

In their papers, Dr. Sherifdeen Tella, who spoke on Gender Sensitivity Budgeting and Mrs. Afolabi-Akinyode, who drafted the bill, called on relevant authorities to include social welfare scheme in the budget. This, they claimed, would go a long way in lessening women's burden in caring for the old and unemployed. Government was urged to enhance educational standard of women have a more liberal approach to pension fund as well as strengthening the Ministry of Women Affairs to be more active in creating favourable programmes for women.

In his contribution, Dr. Justus Sokefun, the Dean of Law Department, OOU, advocated the reform of certain legislation which make it impossible for women to enforce their rights. He wanted the issue of marital rape looked into, as well as the mode of taking evidence of rape victims which, when done in the open court, prevents some victims from giving evidence because of the stigma attached to rape. The issue of inheritance and some culture whereby women are passed as inheritance, according to him, should be reviewed.

Above all, the participants called on well meaning Nigerians and women in particular to support the passage of the bill which would soon be sent to the Ogun State House of Assembly to create an equal society for all.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312160660.html