Formidable approaches that will break the marginalization and subjugation of women in decision making process have been advocated.
This was the view of speakers at this year’s International Women’s Day celebration organized the Women Studies and Development Centre, Adekunle Ajasin university, Akungba-Akoko.
The speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Akindele was among dignitaries that graced the occasion held at the Olusegun Obasanjo hall.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, inspiring Change: Equality for Women is progress for all was to draw attention to the leadership potentials of women in driving the needed change in the world, thus breaking the yolk of inequality against them.
And in AAUA, the annual event is domesticated to join the global call for gender equality.
The vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Femi Mimiko, represented by the dean of Postgraduate School, Prof. Francis Oyebade that his management has in the last four years put a number of gender-friendly policies in place to give women a pride of place in the institution.
In his words: “Our university has been a forerunner in this project. In a bid to give an academic face to this advocacy, we have established the Women’s Studies and Development center with a mandate to research into gender issues, to provide research and data support for the clarion call for gender equality”.
In a speech titled the Plight of Women in politics, the speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Akindele decries the marginalization and subjugation of women on the ground of tradition, cultural and religious practices and beliefs.
“Women are not considered as equal partners in the homes to be allowed to make and share decisions with their male counterparts in the family. The gender discrimination against them has been extended to public life where women experience marginalization even in the electoral process and undue criticism if per chance they assume any office”, she said.
The first Ondo female speaker maintained that equality is the cornerstone of every democratic society. She therefore called for grassroots mobilization and political education for women to inspire them into politics to break the age-long barriers against them.
Earlier in her welcome address, the director of Women Studies and Development centre of the institution, Dr (Mrs) Nireti Duyilemi implored female students of the institution against social vices that could cause them to be short-changed by their male counterparts.
The lead paper presenter on the occasion, Prof. (Mrs) Abiodun Durosaro from the University of Ilorin emphasized the need to educate female child to liberate them from marginalization, while another speaker from the federal university of Technology, Akure, Prof. Dapo Fagbenro said men who assault women sexually should be castrated.
The event was spiced by interlude dance and ewi by students of the institution.
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