By Murtala Muhammad
Junior Chamber International (JCI), has acknowledged the critical role of women in shaping societies, calling for deliberate actions to support their empowerment.
The President of JCI Bauchi City, Tajudeen Taiwo Akintunde gave the indication while speaking at a virtual event to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day organised by his office in partnership with Aid Connect for Development (AIDCODE).
Mr Akintunde said women played crucial roles as mothers, leaders, and change makers, and their contributions cannot be overstated.
He highlighted the achievements of influential women such as Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Obi Ezekwesili Folorunsho Alakija and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti as examples of leadership that drive societal change.
The President JCI Bauchi City, noted that International Women’s Day event was not only to celebrate women’s achievements but to ensure reaffirmation of individuals’ commitment to creating opportunities for them to thrive.
The event featured a panel discussion which focused on breaking the stigma surrounding women’s mental health by encouraging open dialogue, expanding access to professional counselling, and fostering community-based support systems
Experts such as Hajiya Saadatu Muhammad Usman, Hajiya Zuwaira Baba and Abigail Hardo Adegoke addressed the silent struggles many women face due to societal expectations, gender-based violence, and inadequate access to support.
The Executive Director of AIDCODE, Abigail Hardo Adegoke, emphasised the need to integrate mental health into broader gender discussions, stating that many women suffer in silence due to cultural norms and inadequate mental health resources.
Development Partners Coordinator at the Bauchi State Ministry of Education, Saadatu Muhammad Usman, explored crucial issues of gender equality and inclusion, particularly in education and career opportunities.
She highlighted initiatives such as the Agile Project, supported by the World Bank, which focuses on providing adolescent girls with literacy, numeracy, life skills, and vocational training.
On the impact of media in shaping societal perceptions of women, the Gender Desk Officer, Bauchi State Ministry of Health, Zuwaira Baba stressed the importance of gender-sensitive communication in advocacy campaigns and the need to engage traditional and religious leaders in promoting gender equality.
She said media plays a powerful role in shaping societal attitudes, noting that capacity building training for journalists, policymakers and service providers on gender-sensitive reporting was key in actualisation of positive representations of women in leadership and decision-making roles.
Leave a Reply