South East breaking News
By Steve
The wife of Abia state Governor,Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu has urged women to seek to close the Gender gap and discrepancy between men and women in the areas of health, education, political empowerment, while creating power and opportunities for women in a world mostly dominated by men.
She pointed out that one of the major focus should be to eliminate violence against women, the physical abuse ,sexual assault, economic abuse ,psychological abuse that are as a result of the perception that women are second class humans.
Mrs Ikpeazu who disclosed this during the 2021 International Women Day celebration, held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia,with the theme :
“Women In Leadership; Achieving An Equal Future In A covid-19 World” said the theme further brings to our conscience the fact that covid-19 has a negative toll on efforts to bridge the gap between Gender
According to her,” Covid-19 brought about an unprecedented increase in gender based violence. It is so alarming that several persons and stakeholders have increased the scope of their intervention in gender based violence over the past one year.
” In Abia state. we have the violence against persons prohibition law in force ,we have two new centers to cater for vulnerable persons and victims of Abuse in Aba and Umuahia .
We have established a modern resource and skill acquisition center in Umuahia.I have set up a GBV resource center to coordinate response protocols and pathways put in place by organizations such as the ministry of women Affairs, FIDA ,child protection Network ,Vicar Hope foundation and others “
Delivering her lecture,a consultant public Health Physician and chairman medical protocol committee of Abia state covid-19 Response ,Dr Carol Iwuoha ,who delivered a lecture on the role of Women in the covid-19 response, informed women that “covid-19 is still here with us ,do not be afraid of isolation centers ” while urging women to take care of themselves and to continue with their professional development.
In her words, ” part of women’s role is to take care of their health, take care of your nutrition, your nutrition is very important to us ” she said
She described the event as a great one .” it is a positive one because its a great opportunity for women to know what other women are doing. It will encourage them so that they can do more .It is also an opportunity for women to demand for equal opportunity both in political and socioeconomic affairs ” she insisted.
Interacting with Newsmen shortly after the event ,Mrs Eunice Nwaigwe,described the event as a thing of joy,saying that women are celebrating themselves all over the world .
According to her ,” we have come a long way .we can not hide ourselves any more .our roles are numerous and we are created to change the world, to change the future and as women we need to do more.we will not relent and we need to be united to achieve that ” she said
Other key note lecturers include ,professor Roseline Ndimele ,who spoke on : women in leadership:, Akudo Amanamba Esq,who spoke on the understanding and combating gender based violence ,Dr Edith Nwosu ,the vice chairman vicar Hope foundation amongst others