The International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.
The celebration of IWD has been on for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911, supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups, collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
Marked annually on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year. The aim of the occasion is to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about women’s equality, and lobby for accelerated gender parity, raise funds for female-focused charities. The campaign theme for international women’s day 2021 is ‘ ChooseToChallenge’. A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So let all #ChooseToChallenge.
It is pertinent to note that no one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network, or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. The day belongs to all groups, collectively everywhere. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”
Meanwhile, your darling News Echo sought the views of an Igbo Amazon, an epitome of womanhood, Lolo Maureen Nneka Kingsley (Lolo Ebubemba Ikeduru) who has been selected as News Echo Woman of the Year. A sweet wife and an affectionate mother, Maureen Kingsley is based in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and blessed with beautiful children. A hard working professional, she is a registered nurse and behaviour support practitioner.
A campaigner for balanced representation and fairness in government, she also promotes gender equality. An assiduous as well as prudent professional, Maureen Kingsley who in practical purposes resembles the indefatigable Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, in Physics, and with her later win, in Chemistry, became the first person to claim Nobel honors twice, is a director in many of the subsidiaries she manages alongside her energetic and enterprising husband who doubles as the chief executive officer of DeKings Holistic Communications Network Ltd, publishers of News Echo newspapers.
As a part of her contribution to humanity which is a part of promoting and encouraging IWD, she is a co-founder as well as director of DeKing Charity Foundation based here in Nigeria. In this way, Maureen Kingsley was one of the representatives at Equals International Adelaide Australia where she advocates for gender equality and empowering African women to be independent and striving to play influential roles in the society at large. The News Echo Woman of the Year is no doubt a very hard-working, independent woman who prides herself in the position she occupies and does not in any way believe in the glass ceiling against women.
Responding to News Echo on what is the purpose of the IWD celebration vis- a-vis the ideals of the Beijing Conference of 1995, this elegant woman of note said:”Nigeria as a country still has a lot of hard work to do when it comes to Gender Equality. Because of that, we shall use this IWD celebration to educate our women on the need to stand up for their rights. They must refuse to be trampled down. This is our aim; and I think, we can run with it. Our women are still disadvantaged and stereotyped for being women.
This is bad. However, it is worthy of mention that Nigeria has made some successes in promoting the rights of women which includes the: The passage into law of the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, 2015 Plans for the adoption of the United Nations resolution 1325. Though violence against women is still prevalent in homes and public places, I can say there is positive progress”.
She supported her assertion with a quote. She said; “According to Meghan Markle, it is said that girls with dreams become women with vision. May we empower each other to carry out such a vision – because it isn’t enough to talk of equality, one must believe it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work at it. Let us work at it together, starting now.”
The sensational Lolo Kingsley whose performance in all her respective capacities have been quite awesome, while responding to News Echo, gave an insight on how to break the glass ceiling over women, to encourage, inspire and motivate them to take an active part in politics, particularly in black Africa.
On what she thinks the assumption of office of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), she noted that Nigerian women and women globally, are equal to any task given to them. According to her, “This is an outstanding achievement, not only from the Nigerian woman’s perspective, but the African woman’s perspective, as well as women all over the world.
“Her election as the director-general of WTO is a very significant one, considering that she is from a country with an indigent economic management system, bribery and corruption, the world was still able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, considered her potentials, appointed her as the director-general of the world trade organization, even though her skills and experiences were never recognized in her home country”.
She continued, “As a Nigerian woman, it puts me on my toes. I’m overjoyed; I feel like I can do anything. For an African woman to occupy that position, that’s hugely significant; it’s a kind of encouragement for all women, both in Nigeria and worldwide. I know many women who have put in significant effort in every aspect of life, either in the academia, as captains of industries or in politics.
“Her appointment means we should not relent in our fight against gender inequality. We should still put in more effort to win the fight and get what we want”. She gave the following tips for a better celebration. Vote with your dollar “Support this international women’s day by deliberately seeking out and supporting local women-owned businesses. Share your challenge with your friends and encourage them to do the same.
“Donate to charity – “If you’re looking for a way to make a difference in a worthy cause this March, consider donating to a charitable organization supporting women – either locally or globally. Acknowledge the awesome women in your life -sometimes, simple words of encouragement and love can go a long way in lifting someone and inspiring them to keep going. Whether it’s your mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, girlfriend, or friend – send a text, call or Face-time an important woman in your life to let them know how awesome they are”.
For the records, Maureen Nneka Kingsley (Lolo Ebubemba Ikeduru) was born in Aka- Ezi, Awkuzu, Oyi LGA of Anambra State, to late Mr Stephen Okafor and Mrs Nwosi Okafor. She grew up in Awka, where she attended primary and secondary schools. She completed her tertiary education in Australia, majoring in Nursing and Psychology.
