By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
In their bids to commemorate with this year’s African Women’s Day, no fewer than 1000 Women on Thursday in Lokoja matched against gendered-based violence in Kogi State.
“This year’s Campaign is a global campaign on the elimination of violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), which aims at changing widely accepted harmful social norms that too often justify violence against women and girls, and work with communities and individuals to promote positive norms that promote gender equality and non-violence”.
Speaking on behalf of the Women, the State Coordinator, Gender and Constitution Reform Network, (GECORN), Eunice Abimbola Agbogun called on the Government to support the campaign to put an end to all forms of violence against women and to ensure women are included in politics ahead of the 2023 general election.
Agbogun called on the Government and stakeholders to rise up to the challenge of negative stereotypes and norms about Kogi and African Women adding that, they should become anti-gender-based violence champions in their communities.
“Women at the center of all, should be included in programming because of their role in society and with about with about 50°o of the world’s population, their contributions cannot be under-emphasized.”
” It is important we celebrate the role of women beyond child-bearers and primary caregivers. We have seen women achieving greater heights in the society industrially, law, politics, agriculture, and education respectively.”
“There is almost no level of human attainment that women have not been able to conquer. Astronauts, fighter pilots, scientists, mathematicians, Journalists and activists respectively.”
She, however, called on the State Government to ascent to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP), a bill that was passed into law by the State Assembly recently.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Chairperson, International Federation of Female Lawyers, (FIDA), Mrs. Lilian Okolo said almost all the states in the country have passed the VAPP bill, hence there is a need for Kogi State to follow the part of history. She explained that the bill is not only for women alone but for everyone.
Responding, the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba said the day is a period to acknowledge African women who played a vital role in building the African continent.
Among the participants of the peace walks according to our correspondent includes, Gender and constitution reform network, International Federation of Female Lawyers, (FIDA), National Association of Women Journalist, (NAWOJ) and Federation of Muslims Women Association in Nigeria, (FONWAN).
Others are Women in Christian Association of Nigeria, National Council of Women Society, Market Women Association, including widows took a walk to the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs Lokoja calling for an end to all forms of violence against women in the State.
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