The Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended, states that women are to be treated in the same fair manner as men. This is a pointer to the fact that Nigeria recognizes that a nation that is not engendered is endangered.
Notwithstanding the above constitutional provision and international institutional framework, there has been a growing agitation for equitable distribution of the national wealth along political, regional or religious lines.
To further put the issue in proper context, it must be noted that equity is not for the lazy man. Equity does not directly amount to equality of being measured by status or capital. The rights of any citizen to have a verified sense of belonging, fair treatment or harmonious co-existence are key indicators of equity at work. However, such desire must be earned or fulfilled through responsible conduct, productivity and total believe in the system.
The African and indeed, Nigerian woman has demonstrated that she is a partner in progress and a resilient strength in nation building. From the family level to national and international arena, the African women have consistently played crucial stabilizing roles with skill in child upbringing and general home keeping as well as productive and profitable farming, vocation and other professions.
Their male counterparts have been able to achieve a lot individually or collectively because the women were supportive and are at their back-and-call. Men who made mark in communal, national and global politics and enterprise had their power base firmly rooted in their households where the women held sway.
“The role of public service in women empowerment innovation and accessible service delivery,” which is the theme of this year’s International Public Service Day is suitable and commendable. The policy to develop the capacity of civil servants should be encouraged and sustained especially with regard to gender incentives.
Furthermore women elected or appointed into public offices have on broad assessment performed creditably and their impact on society cannot be denied. In the past one-decade or more of uninterrupted democratic governance in most African countries, and Nigeria especially, some women have clearly demonstrated commitment, patriotism and expertise in specific areas of duty.
A group of Nigerian professionals and patriots alluded to this fact of peculiarity when in their quest to honour women as part of the Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration in 2010, stated in a programme entitled ‘Golden Jubilee Nigeria Woman Award’ as follows:
“In the West, the odds are essentially the same for the sexes. But in Africa and Nigeria in the pre-colonial, colonial and even post-colonial periods, the difficulties faced by the female gender, were and in some places are still unbelievable.
That is why these Nigerian women who have surmounted these traditional and cultural hurdles to attain great heights deserve to be recognised and honoured. Interestingly, the organisers of that award event which included Radio Nigeria- the largest Radio Broadcast Network in Africa – recognised and honoured Her Excellency, the first African female President and Head of State, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia as the only woman outside Nigeria that received the award.
Suffice to say that leading women in our time have brought laurels and honour to both the continent and country with such sterling intelligence and professionalism.
For instance, Her Excellency, Mrs. Joyce Banda, Malawi’s first female President has a track record of fighting for women rights. The African Union Commission Chairperson. Dr. Nkosazana Zuma from South Africa is currently directing the political affairs of the continent in Addis Ababa, while Rwanda has the highest number of women parliamentarians’ worldwide, occupying sixty-three per cent seats.
Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigerian Ambassador to the UN, is the only Permanent Representative of a non-permanent member nation to have served as President of the UN Security Council. Again, Prof Ogwu evolved the first and ever Stand Alone Resolution on Security Sector Reforms, as well as the Resolution on Preventive Diplomacy, among other quality contributions and performance by this distinguished female Diplomat.
The former Managing Director of the World Bank, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, former Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) (Africa) both of them former ministers in Nigeria, remain global personalities and African pride.
In the same vein, it will be recalled that three out of four Nigerian born British citizens, namely Hon. Helen Grant, Hon. Chi Onwurah and Hon. Kate Osamor are female politicians who won election into the UK Parliament this year. Again, save for the rule of law, which governs tenure of office, many wished for longer stay of the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Maryam Aloma Muktar who brought so much grace and respect as the first woman to occupy such high office and inspiring other women and female jurists, in particular.
Nigerians cannot forget Itunu Hutonu, the first female Rear Admiral, a Major- General equivalent in the Nigerian Army and the first female Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Ivy Okoronkwo, who have left career legacies and professional competences as role models in their respective fields.
The patriotic contributions and initiatives by female parliamentarians like Sen. Chris Anyanwu, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Hon Nnenna Ukeje-Elendu and Hon Beni Lar in the 7th National Assembly facilitated the passage of Freedom of Information Act, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, Gender and Diaspora Protection bills as well as other social safety nets legal framework.
Also, it took the Personal effort of the Flying Police Woman Chioma Ajunwa’s Long Jump to win Nigeria’s First Olympic Gold medal in Atlanta 96, after 44 years of membership. More so, the Amazons and heroines like the late Prof Dora Akunyili (former NAFDAC boss) and Dr. Stella Adadevoh (Ebola conqueror) who died in active service to their fatherland and having saved millions of lives of fellow citizens and Africans. However, societies are unwittingly absorbing some unimaginable shocks and pressures from foreign cultures, which under normal circumstances should have been resolved or collectively fought and defeated.
Women and children being vulnerable and soft targets seem to be at the mercy of the criminal gangs that chose bloodletting and enslavement of the innocent people as pre-occupation. Today, children have become suicide bombers and articles of trade in the hands of human traffickers, ritualists, child labour, underage marriages, out of school/street children as well as the baby factory syndrome. Other gender challenges include high number of deaths of more African youths struggling to cross the hostile desert terrains and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.
For the attention and followership around it, gender issues deserve continuous reviews both for its descriptive meaning and actionable impact on society.
Therefore, women cannot run away from this battle targeted against their kind. They must fight and win because one of the world’s most influential leaders, the former British Prime Minister Mrs. Margaret Thatcher once declared. “If you want something said ask the man, if you want something done ask the woman”.