We are Calling for Equity & Justice Not Competition with Men – Women Group

Gloria Shoda, President, National Council for Women’s Societies (NCWS), says the clamour for improved livelihood for women is to complement men’s roles and not to compete with them.

Shoda said this when she led some members of the society on a visit to the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Bello in Abuja on Thursday.

She called on the FCT administration to create impactful policies that would ease the burden of residents through provision of social amenities and infrastructure fitting FCT.

Shoda solicited for policies in both public and private sectors to ensure that women are fully integrated into development plans.

She said women should be accorded more space and opportunities, as the nation stands to gain infinitely from their empowerment.

According to her, our clamour for improvements in the life of women is not to contest headship of families with men.

“It is often about fairness, equity and justice. We subscribe to the age-long position of men as heads of families. Our culture and religious tenets encourage this position. Nothing must preclude a woman from having equal access to opportunities, like political and professional leaderships that are open to both genders.

I appeal to people that make policies in both the public and private sectors to ensure that women are fully integrated into development plans. They should be accorded more space and opportunities as the nation stand to gain infinitely from their empowerment,’’ she said.

She appealed for the revalidation of the vacant land beside the national headquarters of the society.

Shoda also called on the FCT to consider the involvement of the society in activities bothering on market administration, sanitation and health care programmes in the FCT.

Shoda said that it was the NCWS’ shared aspiration to stimulate women to create wealth, help to build a virile polity and assist in building a greater tomorrow for the nation.

She said the council would join hands with the three tiers of government, public-spirited individuals and philanthropic organisations to improve the fortunes of the Nigerian woman.

Bello, in his response, promised to partner with the society for improved livelihood for women.

He said that a better life for the women was by extension a life for the family and the nation at large.

He promised to look into the revalidation of the vacant land beside the national headquarters of the society to ease their activities.