Int’l Women’s Day: Kaduna women seek better deal, more awareness on rights
NAN-H-22
Women
By Aisha Gambo
Kaduna, March 8, 2018 (NAN) A cross section of women in Kaduna on Thursday called for massive awareness on the rights of women, to protect themselves from exploitation and abuse.
Some of the women, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on the International Women’s Day, however, said they were not aware of the day or what it represent in their lives.
Mrs Lucy Paul, a trader, said that women were supposed to mobilise and rally across the street of the state to commemorate the day and create awareness to other women who were not aware or might have forgotten about the day.
“As you can see the streets are quite, nothing extraordinary is happening for us women to know that it is our day.
“Women are the driving force for any development and as such we don’t deserve to be celebrated in a low key,” she said.
She called on government to provide free education up to university for the girl child and women willing to go back to school.
Mary Luka, a security guard who also confessed not being aware of the day, however, said it was a good development to celebrate women.
“It shows the importance of a woman in any society; women have come of age and should be given equal treatment with men in terms of decision making and participation in governance.
“I believe a woman can become a governor of this state and perform better than a man, and I pray I reach that time so that I can cast my vote for her,” she said.
Another trader, Aisha Yusuf reiterated the need for government, non governmental organisations and other stakeholders to do more in terms of women empowerment.
According to her, many women seen begging by the road side with children have no job or anyone to cater for them, as such government must take that responsibility.
“I thank God I am self employed, but there are many women out there who need support to be self reliant”, she said.
Also, Hauwa Abuabakar, a civil servant, expressed concern over rising cases of domestic violence and called for strict sanctions against perpetrators.
“We need laws that would protect women from domestic violence and a salvation for women that have been abused.
“There should be an agency that would address issues of domestic violence against women, where women cry would be heard,” she stressed.
NAN reports that the international Women’s Day 2018 theme is `Press for Progress’, which is a call to push for progress in gender equality. (NAN)
AMG/MZA
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed