| NEWS
|
National
Metro
Africa
World
Business
|
|
|
| OPINION
|
Editorial
Columnists
Contributors
Letters
Cartoons
Discussions
Outlook
|
|
|
| SPORTS
|
Home
Abroad
Golf Weekly
Results
|
|
|
| FEATURES
|
Focus
Policy & Politics
Arts
Media
Science
Natural Health
Law
Education
Weekend
Friday Review
Executive Briefs
Fashion
Food & Drink
Auto Wheels
Friday Worship
Saturday Magazine
Sunday Magazine
Ibru Ecumenical Centre
Agro Care
|
|
|
|
|
Madunagu urges scrapping of Women Affairs Ministry
From Sunday Eno-Abasi, Calabar
A GENDER activist and Professor of Botany, Bene Madunagu, has called for the scrapping of Ministry of Women Affairs in the country. He said it had failed to justify its existence.
Madunagu, who is also the chair person of the Executive Board of Girls Power Initiative (GPI), a non governmental organisation (NGO) made the call at the weekend in Calabar, Cross River State, in a workshop organised by the group for media practitioners.
At the workshop with the theme: "Beijing (conference), Ten years After: Promoting Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights", Madunagu averred that the existence of the Women Affairs Ministry was absolutely unnecessary as it contributed greatly to the marginalisation of women".
Explaining further she said, "the ministry is not delivering enough services when it comes to gender mainstreaming and it even lack the capacity to meet the needs of the average Nigerian woman, hence the need for it to give way".
According to the university teacher, most issues that affect the well being of the Nigerian women are referred to this ministry which do little or nothing to save the situation, so we are much more marginalised than before they were created.
She therefore called for equal representation of men and women in positions of power and decision making across board.
Her words: "The continuous existence of Ministry of Women Affairs is a misconception of the idea of mainstreaming. 50/50 representation in positions of authority and decision making is the only way out.
Continuing she said: "Don't give positions on the basis of sex, but on that of skills and qualification. Young girls should be encouraged to go into professional areas that they show interest in rather than be discouraged because every woman with adequate training possess the capacity to do what her male counterparts are doing.
In a lecture titled: "Gender Concept and Mainstreaming," one of the facilitators, Ofonasaha Ekpoudom, stressed the need for the inclusion and involvement of women in the formulation of programmes and policies that would have impact on them.
|
|
|
|
|
| BUSINESS SERVICES
|
Property
Appointments
Money Watch
Market Report
Capital Market
Business Travels
Maritime Watch
Industry Watch
Energy Report
Insurance
Compulife
|
|
|
|
|
