International Women’s Day: FIDA others, call for empowerment & greater participation for women

The International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked on Saturday March 8, 2014 all over the world. Commemorating the day in Nigeria, various organisations including the International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) called for the protection of the rights of women.

In her IWD message to women in Nigeria, The National Chairperson of FIDA Nigeria, Hauwa Shekarau, called for the empowerment of the Nigerian woman, a move which she says will help women make informed decisions for their individual advancement and contribution to society.

The FIDA boss who made this call as part of organisation’s activities for the celebration of the International Women’s Day in Nigeria, cited discrimination as one of the critical factors affecting the participation of women in had prevented them from contributing meaningfully to the development of the country.

Reiterating the theme for this year, ‘Equality for Women is Progress for All,’ she said, “On the occasion of this year’s International Women`s Day, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria agrees with  the United Nations that working for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality means progress for all.”

She urged the Federal Government to ensure the protection of every woman’s right, noting that society does benefit when women, which includes “our mothers, sisters, friends, and colleagues can reach their full potentials.”

International Women’s Day, which has existed for more than 100 years, was the product of an era marked by rapid change and upheaval in the industrialised world. As the planet’s population grew and the demand for labor increased, and as new ideologies took shape, women were thrust into a brave new world and confronted with a host of challenges.

Today, International Women’s Day is recognized by the UN and is an official holiday in 27 countries.

Theodora Kio-Lawson