The Plateau chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) on Tuesday commended the resilience of women as it marked the 2022 International Women’s Day.
“We commend the resilience of Nigerian women for standing tall even in the face of daunting challenges facing the nation,’’ the association stated.
The International Women’s Day is a global day marked annually on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The International Women’s Day has been marked annually on March 8 for well over a century with the first celebration held in 1911.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Jennifer Yarima and Priscilla Gurumnaan, chairperson and secretary, respectively, NAWOJ declared that the theme for 2022 celebration, “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’’ is apt.
The association stated that the theme spotlighted the need for people to individually and collectively work against biases done deliberately or unconsciously that fuelled gender inequality.
NAWOJ noted that women had continued to make meaningful contributions in all spheres of endeavours towards the development of societies.
It appealed to the National Assembly to reconsider the proposed Gender Equality amendment thrown out during Constitutional amendment proceedings last week.
“We express our disappointment and dissatisfaction at the discrimination against women by the rejection of the Gender Equality Bills by the 9th National Assembly in the just-concluded amendments to the 1999 Constitution,’’ NAWOJ stated.
It stressed that the reconsideration and amendment of the relevant clauses of the amendment would enable women to have louder voices and be equal players in the developmental strides of Nigeria.
The association enjoined women not to ever give up in achieving their dreams and aspirations as effective, powerful and change makers, but to remain resolute in ensuring that all forms of gender gaps were bridged.
It stated that women should keep in mind that they have the numerical strength to effect positive and needed change in the society.
The association also encouraged women to continue to get involved in politics and stand to be counted as the 2023 election year was fast approaching.
NAWOJ noted that without gender equality today, a sustainable and equal future was beyond the reach of Nigerian women.