By Alex Abutu
Today is the International Women’s Day. A day set aside to celebrate and recognise women for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
International Women’s Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.
The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas.
Officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century across the globe.
The fact that Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th is strongly linked to the women’s movements during the Russian Revolution (1917).
For us in Africa, the first known campaign of its kind was when Egyptian Society of Physicians went against tradition by declaring the negative effects of female genital mutilation. This was in 1920, back home, Nigeria started experiencing documented women led protest and demonstrations against limiting their rights in 1929, when Aba Women’s Riot was sparked by a dispute between a woman named Nwanyeruwa and a man, Mark Emereuwa, who was helping to make a census of the people living in the town controlled by the Warrant, Okugo.
Before and after 1929 many other notable women had played vital roles in helping Nigeria attain where we are today. Without prejudice, the names of Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, MON, also known as Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian educator, political campaigner, suffragist, Queen Amina, Madam Efunroye Tinubu, Margret Ekpo, Madam Udoma in Ikot Abasi are some that readily come to the mind.
These women fought for the right of women when they were not treated well. We have women’s tax revolt in Abeokuta, which Prof Wole Soyinka once called ‘The great Upheaval’. This occurred in 1947-1948, when African societies were still trying to recover from the hardships imposed by the interwar depression and the Second World War.
Related Posts
As far back as 1960-1965, we had outstanding women also that were elected to the House of Assembly like Madam Janet, who was elected to represent the women in the constituent Assembly in 1976; that was how women contributed, after that era General Ibrahim Babangida, when he came on board and gave the women open door to also come into governance after he created the office of the First Lady for the very first time in 1985. And then through the wife then, we had Better Life for Rural Women that really brought women to the open, unlike pushing the women inside. Women started coming out during Mariam Babangida’s reign and then from there, we started having women participate in elective positions. Since then, even though the number we have is insignificant, it started that time up till today.
On the scientific side, on the average, in Nigeria, women make up 22 per cent of the total number of engineering and technology university graduates on yearly basis, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, while the IT industry often talks about inclusion and diversity, much more work remains to be done.
We are told every day that the rise of women is not about the fall of men. Many societies are fast moving on from women having to succeed in a man’s world. In that wise, stereotypes are being challenged and diverse representation of women is more evident. Now, the saying that women run the world is becoming a reality with every passing year. Women, globally, are challenging the status quo by contributing immensely, working hard, and breaking the glass ceilings around the world. They are self-confident and not afraid to push all the boundaries required to breast the tape in whatever field they choose.
Currently, there are many Nigerian women leading or breaking all available records in their various disciplines that should be celebrated and become a focal and reference point for our younger girls.
Among this group we have Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is blazing the trail at WTO, Eloho Aiboni, Nneka Oyeali, Yemisi Edun, Titilayo Ebong, Prof. Lilian Orogbuany many more who are worthy models for our society.
Ehirim, Bernard who is the programme officer Stewardship at AATF and a pro-woman in science campaigner said, “There are particular set skills women bring to bear when certain processes in science is concerned, especially with respect to tissue culture. They are the best hands to use because they can be patient enough to deliver enough plantlets without many contaminations. They have also shown to be good with loading gel for the usual real time PCR processes.”
According to the United Nations, women journalists are not left out of oppressive tendencies of men. A survey of women journalists from 125 countries conducted by the UN found that 73 per cent had suffered online violence in the course of their work.
The situation is not different in Nigeria, our women journalists are not spared but in spite of all the hazards of the job, they have continued to deliver on their schedule deadlines.
Join me to salute our brave and courageous women who have worked tirelessly to keep the flag flying at work, in the kitchen and the other room.
