The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has pledged to include more women in politics come 2023 general elections. as the UN Women launches ‘HeForShe Initiative’ in Cross River State, South-South Nigeria,
Governor Ayade made the pledge after he received an award as the “Male Gender Champion” for appointing and ensuring that more women got appointive and elective positions in the Cross River political environment.
Ayade, who expressed appreciation to the UN Women Spotlight Initiative for the honour accorded him as an ambassador and advocate for gender equality as well as end to violence against women, pledged that more women would be encouraged to seek elective offices as the 2023 election approaches.
He said, “as we gather to celebrate gender equality, I speak and stand strong for women and there are also men in other parts of the world that are being oppressed by women. So, as we advocate for equality for women, we do not want to forget the men, who need protection.”
Ending Silent Violence
The governor passionately appealed to the United Nations and other international organisation to refocus the subject of family planning methods on men rather than women.
Ayade suggested, “the greatest violence against women remains unnoticed. Today, women suffer severe consequences of all forms of family planning. One man is capable of impregnating 100 women in one month, while a woman can only bear one child in 9 months, yet when it comes to family planning; it is the women, who get all the injections, implants and pills.”
According to him, the consequences arising from the use of family planning methods affects the emotional, physical, financial and psychological wellbeing of women.
“These are concerns that I think the United Nations should take very seriously. It is not sufficient for us to come and pay lip service on the issue of gender violence, I urge every person to stand up against family planning that targets women’s fertility.
“I also urge all men and leaders to join hands and end all forms of violence against women; let us all stand for women,” Ayade said.
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Agents of change
Earlier, the UN Women Deputy Country Representative, Lansana Wonneh, in a remark said that the ‘HeForShe Initiative’ was a solidarity movement for gender equality developed by UN Women to encourage men and boys to be advocates and agents of change.
Wonneh explained that the central message for the HeForShe campaign in Nigeria was to enable society to view gender inequality as a human rights issue meant to benefit both women and men socially, politically and economically.
“The launch for HeForShe Initiative in Cross River is very essential in the successful implementation of this (Spotlight Initiative) project.
“It emphasizes the importance of outreach to strategic groups, men, young people, the media, private sector and other stakeholders on the inclusion of men as allies to lead the achievements of gender equality, the breaking of stereotypes and patriarchal norms in Nigeria,” he said.
Wonneh said that the Spotlight Initiative, which is a joint EU-UN multi-year programme to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls and to realise a Nigeria where all women and girls live free from all forms of violence, was being implemented in Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, FCT, Sokoto and Adamawa states.
In a welcome speech, the Commissioner for the Ministry of International Development Corporation, Dr. Inyang Asibong commended Spotlight Initiative and the UN Women for launching the campaign in Cross River state.
The event climaxed with the presentation of “Male Gender Champion against gender Based Violence” to Governor Ayade and the traditional ruler of Obanliku local government area of Cross River State, Amos Uyumulam Item for his effort at ending the age-long cultural practice called “money marriage” in Becheve village.
Zainab Sa’id
