NAN-HG-9
Women
By Azubuike Okeh
Port Harcourt, March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Chairman, Federation of Women Lawyers in Rivers, Mrs Anthonia Osademe, has called for the abolition of traditional practices that impinge on women rights and development.
Osademe made the call in Port Harcourt on Wednesday while speaking to newsmen on the commemoration of the 2017 International Women’s Day.
She said that women must be given enough encouragement to occupy positions that guaranteed their full rights and privileges.
She claimed that many traditional practices were tilted against women in a manner that gave men an “unbalanced prominence.’’
‘‘The woman is the labourer of the home; she toils night and day to build the home and all her efforts are unrecognised.
“Many practices do not accord any form of right of ownership on women; we need to work out ways of redressing these imbalances,’’ Osademe said.
Meanwhile, some female traders who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion urged women not to abandon their traditional roles in pursuit of gender balance.
Mrs Angela Okolo regretted that many women had abandoned their roles as homemakers and care-givers while trying to pursue women`s rights.
She said that though it was not wrong to ask for improved opportunities for women, such advocacy should also urge women to play their traditional roles at home.
Another trader, Mrs Fyne Ankarah, charged women to pay more attention to their families, saying ‘‘many families have failed today because women failed to play their roles’’.
‘‘The roles meant for wives have been abandoned to domestic employees in many homes; many women have also abandoned their roles because they see themselves as equal partners.
“In life, family is everything; women must not forget that they are helpmates in the family. They have to play their roles well,’’ she said.
NAN reports that March 8 has, since 1975, been set aside by the United Nations to mark International Women’s Day. (NAN)
AZU/MOL/OPI
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi and Olisa Ifeajika