2021 International Women’s Day; It’s Women O’clock.

By Laurence Maduabuchi Obewe.

The International Women’s Day, Marked March 8 every year is a global day celebrating economic, social, cultural and political achievement of women. The theme for this year’s celebration, #ChooseToChallenge, is significant, particularly considering how challenging the last one year has been with the struggles with the Corona Virus pandemic across the world.

The global lockdown brought to the fore many of the challenges that women face in the family, work place and the society, which had been under reported. There were increases in sexual violence, domestic violence and abuses. The lockdown brought with it high level of intolerability in families, which led to unprecedented high divorce cases. The advocacy for gender parity also suffered during this pandemic as little attention was paid to gender inclusion in work places, as the pandemic and survival became priority.

However, it was not all gloom for women in this past year, as there were also significant strides made by women. Perhaps, none is more significant than the emergence of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the first woman to hold the position. For the first time in history, the top two contenders for the WTO top job were women; Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee. The good news about the emergence of Dr. Okonjo Iweala, who had previously served as the Managing Director, Operations of the World Bank, is that she continues the tradition of global recognitions for Nigerian women. Nigerian women who have earned global recognition in recent years include; Ms Aruma Oteh, Treasurer and Vice President of the World Bank (2015-2018), Dr. Obiagelli Ezekwesili, Vice President of the World Bank (2007-2012), Hajiya Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (2016-Date), amongst others. Nigeria women are making waves abroad. They have become Nigeria’s greatest exports.

Unfortunately, same strides have not being made at home. While women have continued to strive for recognition at home, stereotyping and institutional defects have continued to deny them meaningful impact on the political front. With the exploits of Nigerian women on the global stage, Nigeria must recognize the need to encourage and involve women in playing greater roles in politics and governance in Nigeria. As have been seen on the global stage, Nigerian women might have the keys to the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria, just perhaps. It is time for women in Nigeria to #ChooseToChallenge the status quo. It is time to break all gender glass ceiling. It is time to dominate the home front. To meaningfully #ChooseToChallenge, Nigeria must recognize the huge potentials in women, identify challenges they face and reform systems to support their growth. Only then can we truly see the strength of women in Nigeria. Systems and structures must be strengthened and reform to accommodate women participation.

For instance, the internal democracies within the nation political parties discourage women participation in politics. Women on the own must not abandon their traditional roles in the family in their quest for national recognition. Both can go hand in hand. With mirages of problem facing the nation, at no time has the Nigerian women required in the family more than now. The greatest role of women is molding the family and providing children with directions. This must not be sacrificed in the quest for political participation. In all, women must belong in all places where decisions are being made, whether in the family, society or government. It is now Women O’clock, the time for the Nigerian woman to shine. Happy Women’s Day Celebration. #ChooseToChallenge.

Laurence Maduabuchi Obewe is the

Executive Director,Initiative for Collective Voice, Accountability & Progress (ICoVAP Africa) and writes from Kaduna State.