As Nigerians join the rest of the globe to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, with the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, The Association Of Women Town Planners of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, is calling for the creation of a world where equity will be the bedrock.
The United Nations set aside 8th of March every year to celebrate International Women’s Day. “It is a global day of celebrating social, economic and cultural achievements of women.
Speaking on the significance of the day, the Chairperson Association of Women Town Planners of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter (AWTPN), Town Planner Chinyere Ibegbulam, said the day is significant because it anchors on equity which calls for an inclusive world where men, women, boys, girls support and embrace equity within their own sphere of influence.
She said through the process of equity, everyone can reach equality, adding that when the world embrace equity, diversity and inclusion will be embraced just as she stressed that it is only when this is done that the society can challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, seek inclusion among others.
Town Planner Chinyere Ibegbulam stated that
women deserve a fair treatment in the society, noting that this can be achieved through educational empowerment of women and girls, encouraging equal access to knowledge especially Information Communication and Technology, encouraging women creativity and freedom of expression by supporting research, training, capacity building, networking and women NGO’s Fighting against discrimination and violation of the rights of the girl-child, among others.
She called on the society to respect and protect the rights of women, grant them access to quality healthcare to prevent maternal mortality, called for policies and laws to be put in place to check violence against women.
Furthermore, Town Planner Chinyere Ibegbulam, appealed to government and institutions at all levels especially in Abia State to embrace equity and actively include more women in governance and decision making as women have proven to have the capacity and are good team players.
