Anambra State Library Marks 2021 Int'l Women's Day With Rural Women

By Izunna Okafor

Women have been advised to be resilient, and ensure proper up-bringing of the children, as a way of building a better society and  reducing incidences of crime and other vices in the society.

The Director of Anambra State Library Board, Dr. Nkechi Udeze gave the advice during a one-day event organized by the Library to mark the 2021 International Women's Day.

Speaking at the event which took place at Akili-Ogidi in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra, the Director reminded the women that times were past when women's education was regarded as one that ends in the kitchen. 

She highlighted Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie, Stella Odua, among others, as women who have proved and continued to prove that gender is not a barrier to any educated and outstanding woman who wants to attain greater height and status in the society. Hence, in line with the theme of the day —"Choose to Challenge" —she urged the women to always rise up and choose to challenge anything that is challenging them in life, without being lazy, dormant, being dependent or even giving up.

"Women have many roles to play in every society; and for you to successfully play these roles as a woman, you need to be hardworking, prayerful, resilient, and of good character."

The State Librarian, who praised the women for coming out en masse, further admonished them to love and care for their fellow women's children, to dissuade them from the get-rich-quick syndrome, inculcate good morals in them, and give them adequate education, irrespective of gender, so as to enable them be useful in life.

She called on government at all levels, captains of industries and other employers to always give women adequate priority during recruitment, as a way of showing fairness, equity and giving the women sense of belonging.

On his own part, the Traditional Prime Minister of the Community Igwe Obi Izukanne, extolled the Library for bringing and marking the celebration with them in their hinterland, which he said, shows that the library indeed has the interest of their community and the entire public at heart, irrespective of their developmental status and location. He pleaded for sustenance of the synergy between the Library and the community, and urged the women to internalise and practise everything they were taught at the event.

In their separate remarks, some of the participants at the event, Mrs Mary Olisamah, Mrs Virginia Igama and Mrs Theresa Ogwu confessed that they would like their children and grandchildren to be educated and also like their community to be developed and equipped with the necessary facilities that will make learning attractive, interesting and comfortable for people of the community. 

While appealing to the government for both morning schools (for their children) and evening schools (for the adults), the women also called on the government to intervene on their only access road, as well as on other infrastructural challenges that are making it difficult for the women to harness their potentials and contribute meaningfully to the societal development, as rural agrarian women.

In a vote of thanks, the Women Leader in the community, Mrs Monica Osai, represented by Mrs Victoria Osagi, expressed happiness and satisfaction that their women had learnt a lot in the course of the lecture delivered at the event, and appreciated the Library for bringing the message home to their doorstep.

Among others, the event featured lecture on the significance of the International Women's Day, distribution of facemasks to the women by the Library, for protection against coronavirus; as well as an improvised dance by the women who joyfully hooked to the melodious tune of Gozie Okeke's "Nneoma" song, making the celebration a memorable one indeed.

First celebrated in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. It is also a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.