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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Wife of Bayelsa State governor, Mrs. Gloria Ebibomo Diri, has asked Bayelsa women to engage themselves meaningfully in order to realise their gender equality goal as enshrined in Beijing Conference.
According to Mrs Diri, to have equal level playing ground with men in all spheres of life, women must not only be educated and distinguished but be ready to support one another.
The first lady said this during the 2020 International Women’s Day celebration at Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre in Yenagoa with the Theme: ‘I Am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights’ (Each for Equal). The occasion was her maiden public appearance since her husband, Senator Douye Diri, assumed office due to the benevolence of the Supreme Court review, as the miracle governor.
She said Bayelsa women have always been traditionally known for farming, fishing and other hard and menial labour, saying today the story is different because women now have the awareness of the importance of education of the girl child, hence the women are today found in every strata of the society occupying strategic positions which hitherto has been preserved for the men.
Speaking further, she said women of Bayelsa need to have equal right with their male counterparts in all affairs of governance. “We can make it possible we want to have equal opportunities with men.”
According to her, women equality with men does not mean that they will usurp men’s authority, noting that men still remain the head and women must not forget the biblical injunction to be submissive to their husbands.
She used the medium to thank all Bayelsans women for their support during and after the governorship election in the state.
In her welcome address, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Dr. (Mrs) Emily O. Mieyefa, said not much has been achieved in the last 25 years in women equality as the 35 percent affirmative has remain a mirage not only at the federal , but also at the state level.
According to her, in Nigeria some of the barriers include religious background, tradition and cultural differences, parents’ preference for the education of boys and neglect of the female children.
In their various goodwill messages, the NAWOJ, FIDA, NCWS all highlighted the importance of women in nation building and solicited for support.
Highlights of the occasion was presentation of awards to notable Bayelsan women that have distinguished themselves among who are Prof Ongebi Etebu, pioneer vice chancellor of Nigerian premier University of Maritime Okerenkoko and Prof Abeasi Spiff, Dr Grace Koroye, pioneer Provost Bayelsa College of Arts and Science and Nollywood Actress, Rosemary Igbi amongst others .
