by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The International Women’s Day is an event dedicated to identifying with issues of gender inequality in our global system.
The 2025 International Women’s Day celebration, with the theme, ‘Accelerate Action,’ for all women and girls, rights, equality and empowerment has taken Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Plateau State Chapter to create awareness to women within Jos North and South recently.
Attuned with the philosophy of the anticipations of the United Nations, the theme also re-echoes the need for the engagement of the media, corporate and community leaders, civil society groups and youth to take such definitive actions in their communities.
This move has become relevant, knowing well that the year 2025 is a pivotal moment as it marks the 30th anniversary of the Bejing Declaration and platform for action against discriminatory tendencies against women in our societies.
It was in the light of this development that the Nigeria Police, Rantya Division, led by CSP Ayuba Iliya, who synergised with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Plateau State chapter to create awareness on the need to find lasting solutions to the unpleasant experiences of vulnerable women and children in the state.
The Police Officers and members of the NAWOJ, who have the passion for women empowerment, attended the walk which started at the Division’s Headquarters at Rantya into the Federal Low-cost community and had parley with women, who converged at Lalong’s Gate.
Speaking at the venue, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Rantya, CSP Ayuba Iliya Akawu, explained that the sensitization walk would not have come at a better time than now.
According to him, the division, in compliance with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, has continued to be there for vulnerable women and children in his area of jurisdiction.
CSP Iliya further explained that, My Division has found it quite expedient to continue to work with NAWOJ on the Plateau, owing to their resilient disposition on issues affecting vulnerable women and the girl-child in our society.
“NAWOJ has continued to play the vital role of ensuring the promotion of equality and other rights of women a long time before now.
“I can still recall, with great nostalgia, when I was at the Police Division in Nasarawa Gwong, Jos. We worked with NAWOJ closely. Though, I was not the DPO there, I learned a lot and, today, I am not surprised of what the association is doing to better the lot of women,” he said.
According to him, “I count it a rare privilege to work with NAWOJ as the DPO of Rantya Division, and I know that working with these journalists will make a huge societal impact with great results to show for it. Therefore, we thank God that things are going on smoothly,” he noted.
In a developing nation such as Nigeria, women face significant challenges, including limited access to healthcare, education, political participation, which most times lead to gender discrimination and sexual harassment or violence. Research has also indicated that one-third of girls in developing countries are married off before the age of 18.
Certainly, some of the girls, who marry early, are likely to experience domestic violence, abuse and forced sexual relations. Likewise, in the entrepreneur sector, income disparities and little or no chance of access to financial resources have hindered many women from becoming economically self-reliant.
In a report established by UN Women, it categorically stated that, in 2022, women’s start-up activity was 10.1 percent or 80 percent of the rate of men at 12.6 percent. However, the established business for women was 5.5 percent of the rate of men, which is at 8.1 percent.
This, according to the body, means that the gender gap is greater in the entrepreneurship cycle; demonstrating that women face many barriers not only starting businesses but also in maintaining it due to the inequality they face.
To remove some of these hurdles, the Chairman of NAWOJ, Plateau State chapter, Nene Dung, believes that “more needs to be ‘strategically done’ to help vulnerable women in our society.”
“The increasing percentage of discrimination against women in our society is far becoming unpalatable,” she said, while commending the role played by the DPO of Rantya Division towards curbing reported cases of violence against women in the area.
She stressed that, “More attention needs to be given to vulnerable women in our society, which can help empower these women to contribute to national development and integration.
“Thirty years down the line, after Beijing, no significant progress has been made; rather, there seems to be backsliding in women political and economic participation,” she pointed.
While lamenting on the absence of women in Plateau State House of Assembly, Nene Dung wondered how women’s issues can be deliberated upon exhaustively.
Also, the Executive Director of Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuses, Pwakim Jacob, said “The issue pertaining the plight of women has over the years become very worrisome to great concern to all stakeholders in this country.”
He noted that “The Police has always helped in curbing such menace in our society, but it is unfortunate that such crimes are increasing on a daily basis in the country.”
He also expressed delight that the synergy with the Rantya Police Division is a welcomed development, as it will help in no small measure towards empowering the women for greater productivity.
In the course of the awareness campaigns, the community and stakeholders acknowledged the efforts of the DPO in fighting crime in his jurisdiction.
Just recently, the DPO won the “Plateau Man of the Year” award for his outstanding performance in the area of crime fighting.
The DPO has recorded feats, including foiling several kidnappings, arrest of several suspects and restoring the confidence of the people of the area on the Nigeria Police. Present at the walk were, FIDA, Stand-up for Women Society, Police Wives Association (POWA), etc.