Edo NACCIMA Business Women Group Holds International Women’s Day In Grand Style

By ABIODUN JIMOH, BENIN CITY
Pharmacists Aina Omo-Ojoenu, Edo State Coordinator, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Business Women Group (NAWORG) has remarked that women were not in direct competition with their male counterpart, but only want to complement each other.
She stated this in her address during the 2020 International Women’s Day celebration themed ‘Each for equal’ proudly organised by the state chapter of NAWORG at Trade Fair Complex, Benin City on Monday.
This year celebration had in attendance dignitaries across the state, women of substance, representative of the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye; Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbai; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Maria Edeko; President, BENCCIMA, Rev. Dr. (Mrs) Helen Atekha Odemwingie and host of others.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Venerable Ifuero Osamwonyi, Department of Banking and Finance, University of Benin, while the likes of Mrs. Helen Obobairihboye, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, and many others made various contributions at the event.
Pharm. Omo-Ojoenu added that the day is aimed to help nations of the world to eliminate discrimination against women, and also to focus on helping women gain full and equal participation in global development.
She said: “The International Women’s Day celebration is very remarkable as it marks the Silver Jubilee of the Beijing’s Declaration of Affirmation Action for Women which laid a visionary framework for women’s rights and empowerment.
“It suffices to say that women are beginning to occupy sensitive positions of authority, though the percentage is still relatively low, especially in politics. The theme of this year event is ‘Each for equal’. An equal world is an enabled world. An equal world represents equal rights and opportunities for both men and women across employment, education, culture, economy and political power.
“Let me say here before we miss the essence of the struggle, that women are not in direct competition with their male counterpart, but only want to complement each other. Please note that equality is not a women issue, it is s business and development issue and that is why we the NACCIMA Business Women Group are celebrating this day in all our cities, and state chapters across the country today, March 9th, 2020 since March 8th fell on Sunday.
Similarly, in his presentation, Professor Osamwonyi stressed that the event topic belonged to development economics, and that everyone is given the opportunity to contribute his or her own quota to the development and growth of Nigeria and society.
Prof. Osamwonyi hinted that the role of women has continuously evolved over the years. “In our precolonial societies that now constitute Nigeria, women played major roles in social and economic activities, even in political and cultural set up that was essentially a patrilineal system.
“Empowerment of women has been described as a necessity for the very development of a society, since it enhances both required quality and quantity of human resources. Thus gender diversity and bridging parity gap become central to this discussion.”
However, he mentioned common causes of gender inequality in Nigeria which included education, in some areas in Nigeria especially in the north, whereby girls do not have equal access. Even in the southern parts, historically, girls were disadvantage, but this has changed significantly.
“Traditional and cultural practice and norms; growing gender violence and general insecurity; disciplinary access to finance; capturing of political and economic power by those who largely disregard gender responsiveness, and amongst.”
He hereby concluded that the 17th action points of the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without working to reduce gender inequalities. “This is true for Nigeria where the gender bias is militating against national development. Nigeria politics is one of the areas in great need of gender focused inclusion.”