The Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We are honoured by your distinguished presence in this important occasion of celebrating 2010 International Women Right Week. The need for this workshop can not be overemphasized. As we are all well aware, the Nigerian woman needs to be liberated from certain patriarchal beliefs and norms that are injurious to her right. An average Nigerian woman is trained to be subservient to her husband and his relations. Her state is such that even where her husband and her in laws are hostile to her, she has to continue to be submissive and loyal. The requirement for submissiveness cut across all stratum in the society. The Nigerian woman believes that her husband is her crown such that she places the man just next to God before (at times) her children or even her career. This is more so where the man does not give money for house keep and beats her.
The woman is ready to give everything within her power to keep her home. For the fear that her children may lost their focus in life if she is not around them as they grow, she stick to her cantankerous husband. Some women cannot afford to leave their matrimonial home because they can not fend for themselves.
Thus the clarion call for Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities, Progress for All, the theme of 2010 International Women Right Week seems like a dream so vague to achieve for the Nigerian State.
It is fifteen years since the Beijing Conference and nothing much has been achieved to better the lot of the Nigerian woman. Nigeria has the second highest world record of maternal mortality. The country has not yet reached the 30 percent Affirmative Action on women in politics and governance. Despite making up 49% of the population with a literacy level of 47%, women have less than 15% representation in governance1
The subordination of women and domestic violence show that estimate of abused women is 70% per year and the majority (51.6%) of victims were pregnant women assaulted by their husbands. At least one out of every 3 women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her life time 2 . There is no national law prohibiting domestic violence and in Lagos state where the law is passed the penalty section is so light that an accused person can easily treat the law with disdain. In fact the law is yet to be given full publicity in the state. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international instrument which ensures equal right for women worldwide ratified by Nigeria in 1985 is stuck in the National Assembly. The treaty has only been domesticated in Anambra and Imo State. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa is also yet to be domesticated.
Lack of access to resources, low level of literacy and the violent nature of policies in Nigeria are attributed to women’s low representation
To bring the picture home and make a case for urgent redress W.TEC has organized this workshop in celebration of International Women’s Right Week. A cardinal purpose for event is to wake up and indeed raise women to take strategic positions in technology and governance.
On behalf of W.TEC, l wish everyone present here today a fruitful and robust deliberation as we commit ourselves to make Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities, Progress for All a reality for the Nigerian state.
Thank you
