Some Catholic women on Sunday said that the role of mothers in nation building was inevitable because they can make or mar a nation.
They spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the end of a women’s symposium in commemoration of the Year 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD) held at Saints Joachim and Anne Catholic cpChurch in Ijegun, a suburb of Lagos.
The guest speaker, Mrs Amaka Ukwedike, Vice President of Catholic Women Organisation, (CWO), said women should not be limited by gender to take up any profession or responsibility.
“Women can make it in every sphere of life. In fact, they hold the key to the success of any nation because they give births to children who in late years become either husbands, doctors, pastors or even presidents.
“Women should not be denied any course of study because they can function well in all aspects, including governance.
“Government should appoint more women into key positions, and encourage outstanding ones that performed their responsibilities well,” she said.
Ukwedike, a civil servant, then appealed to mothers not to discourage their female children from taking up professions such as: Engineering, Carpentry, Architecture, Pilot that are considered tedious for them to handle.
Also, a music artiste, Mrs Ifeoma Nwosu, urged mothers to rise up to their domestic responsibilities, saying, “a good and well trained husband, was once a well trained boy by a good and well trained woman.
“A mango tree cannot produce an orange fruit, a good mother must surely produce a good son who will turn out to become a good husband or a good president.
“Women are inevitable tools to the success of a nation, that is why we should be given the best training and aid.”
She advised mothers not to reserve some house chores for the girls and others for boys, they should all be given the same domestic upbringing irrespective of their genders.
Also speaking, Mrs Anthonia Okoase, said women should be given more privilege in acquiring education because an exposed woman would produce exposed children.
“I think the government should bring out special consideration in the education of the girl child because they in turn, educate the nation.
“Scholarships should be offered to indigent girls that cannot afford the cost of going through formal education,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Blessing Eromousele appealed to men to desist from battering or maltreating their wives in the name of cultural practice.
“God created a woman as a helper and to keep the company of her husband and not a second class citizen nor slave, we are equal creations of God and should be given adequate opportunities in life,” she said.
The women shared gender discrimination experiences among themselves and resolved to pioneer the call for positive change and resolutions.
IWD is a global day for celebrating social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world.
The theme for this year is “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights.” (NAN)
