IWD: Author Halima Usman Salutes Women, Seeks End To Gender Biases

As the global community marks the International Women's Day, author and education advocate, Halima Usman has applauded the priceless contributions of women to nation-building, calling for an end to gender biases against women.

While noting that the Nigerian society has not done enough to recognise the role women play in enhancing humanity, the founder HalimaFactor Community Initiative underlined that as housewives, caregivers and career persons, women bring a lot to the table in entrenching stability to homes and lubricating the country's socio-economic environment.

"Today (Tuesday) is International Women’s Day and I want to celebrate all the wonderful women who have made significant input to humanity whether as full time housewives or housewives with additional career; caregivers, single ladies and the young beautiful girls that are turning into beautiful women & mothers.

"I celebrate your love, patience, kindness, resilience, multitasking, bravery, intellect, wisdom and all the value you bring to the table even if not recognized and appreciated", the chairman Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA Abuja chapter said in a release Tuesday.

She also expressed displeasure that at a time the global community is committing so much time and energy to harness to enormous potentials women have for advancement and promotion of their environment, Nigeria has failed to utilise the opportunity at its disposal to make a strong statement in breaking the society-induced biases against women.

While stating that the theme for this year celebration, which is “Gender Equality Today For a Sustainable Tomorrow” with the hashtag 'Break the Bias!' is apt and timely, she called on the National Assembly to revisit and reconsider passing the gender Bills recently rejected by the two chambers of the National Assembly.

This, Usman said will further bridge the widening disparity between men and women representation in the country's political scene, adding that a gender friendly environment will enable women replicate the successes they have recorded in their various professional fields at the national stage.

Recall that the National Assembly had on March 1, 2022 while voting for 1999 Constitution amendment rejected Bills seeking to reserve special seats for women at the National and State Houses of Assembly, provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration, and grant citizenship to foreign-born husbands of a Nigerian woman.

This however did not go down well with some women groups and civil society organisations as they have staged series of protests, calling for a rescission of the votes on the affected bills by the lawmakers.