by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs, in Plateau State, Mr. Alex Anlong, has called for the inclusion of women in all structures of government.
“We all know that without women, there is no Nation, no Community and no State. I want to put it on record that violence against women should stop, and violence against girl-child should stop.”
He was speaking, while addressing CLEEN Foundation with Plateau Women in a Peace and Security Walk organized to commiserate the International Women’s Day 2024, which started at NUJ Press Center Jos, to Ministry of Women Affairs State Secretariat.
According to him, his believe is for people to bring to bear their successes, their failures and the way forward. He commended the women for taking their time to come out for the walk in sensitizing and creating awareness, both private and government.
He acknowledged thus: “Investing in our mothers is a great investment, and investing in our mothers is an investment that we have to do.”
Also, Mrs Grace Joseph Gora, who is leader of Mediation Platforms at the Peace-Walk, with a theme: ‘INVESTING IN WOMEN TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS,’ said “We embark on a journey of reflection, celebration, and action.
“Together, we stand as a formidable force for change, united in our resolve to create a more just and equitable world for all. We commiserate with families and relatives of the school children recently abducted.
“It is a testament to the reasons women should be invested in – to change the template of our public safety and security.”
CLEEN Foundation strongly condemns this incident and calls on security agencies to act with every form of response to rescue these innocent children from the den of these dare devils.
“We also show solidarity to the women in Borno taken from the IDP Camps as well as school children in Sokoto. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress,’ encapsulates the essence of our collective mission.
“This serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative impact that investment in women’s empowerment can have on the trajectory of our communities and our nation as a whole,” Grace Gora noted.
According to her, “Today, as we honor and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women to every facet of human endeavor, let us not forget the countless barriers they have had to overcome: the systemic inequalities they continue to face, and the resilience and strength they demonstrate in the face of adversity.
“This is a call to action, but celebration alone is not enough; we call on Government in Kaduna to translate policies into practice, make every policies and legal frameworks gender-sensitive and responsive.
“It is incumbent upon each and every woman to translate words into action, commitments into tangible change; and we must seize this moment as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to gender equality, to amplify the voices of women, and to dismantle the structures of oppression that hold them back,” she stated.
She observed that, “Investing in women is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. By empowering women, by providing them with the resources, opportunities and support, they need to thrive; they will unlock their full potential as agents of change, innovation, and progress.
“As we march forward today, let us do so with a renewed sense of purpose, with a steadfast determination to build a future where every woman and girl can live free from fear, discrimination, and violence,” Grace Gora stated.
In their own words, the NUJ Chairman, Ayuku Pwaspo, and Nene Dung (NAWOJ chairperson) called on governments at all levels to invest in women, who are farmers, to ensure that at the end women will increase.
The NUJ Chairman noted that, “The world knows that women have the capacity to do all things, and whatever they desire to do, even at whatever we do in our little corner, let’s ensure that we improve the right of women.”
She charged women to always speak out the issue that concerns women, speak out on gender-based violence, and they must continue to help their girls and support each other. “That is the greatest thing we need, so that we can move forward together,” Ayuku Pwaspo stated.