International Women's Day: Tinubu Preaches Gender Equality

March 9, 2005 - (Daily Trust - Abuja) The issue of gender equality and campaign against all forms of discrimination against women and girl child on Tuesday attracted attention as women across Lagos joined their counterparts all over the world to mark the 2005 International Women's Day.

With the theme; 'Thirty years of United Nations efforts to promote gender equality', the Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, who led the state executive to celebrate with women in the state at Ikeja police college, said injustice against women was injustice against all.

Tinubu called on government at all levels to give women the opportunity to play their unique roles. This, he said, was necessary for the stability of democracy.

According to him, this year's women's day presents the nation with the opportunity to reflect on all issues bordering on the complaints by women like lack of equal opportunity.

The governor stated further that Lagos State was in full support of women agitation for equal opportunity adding that this informed the appointment of more female judges and permanent secretaries in the state civil service.

Justifying the creation of a separate ministry for women affairs and poverty alleviation as part of efforts to integrate women into the polity, Tinubu said government would continue to do more by raising the standard of living of women and children.

Speaking at the occasion, the wife of the governor, Chief Remi Tinubu, called on women to rededicate themselves to upholding all the core values and virtues of womanhood both as wives and mothers. She thanked the state commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Joke Adefulire and the ministry for organising the event to celebrate womanhood.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200503090712.html