International Women’s Day: Let’s Not Forget Their Labour, Eleka Urges
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, former deputy governor of Ekiti state and PDP governorship candidate in the 2018 gubernatorial election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, has called for more participation of women in nation-building in Nigeria.
International Women’s day is a global day for celebrating the socio-political and economic and social achievements of women, which is annually celebrated on 8th of March.
The University Don, who identified fund and male chauvinism as factors underpinning full-bodied involvement of women in policy-making of the country, added women are indispensable in all the facets of life.
Eleka said despite the low participation of women in Nigerian politics in the past, there were notable virtuous women who had contributed immensely to governance and made Nigeria proud in the comity of nations.
“We must appreciate the efforts of some notable nationalists like Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and, of course, the former Finance minister and now DG of World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, former DG of NAFDAC, Dr. Dora Akunyili to mention but a few,” Eleka said.
According to him, women are indispensable and their roles and labour cannot be forgotten in the history of the country.
In his words: “A home is built on the strength of a disciplined and diligent woman. Once the foundation is solid, the society is healed. Women are indispensable.”
He, however, called on the government to honor women who have proven to be virtuous and contributed socially, economically and politically to the sustainability of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
He stated: “My office as the former deputy governor of Ekiti state provided platforms for women through the office of the wife of the deputy governor to express their talents and prowess. Women were empowered and given an opportunity to add values to governance. So, I want to say that their contributions should not be written off.”
