By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State chapter of the National Council of Women Society has condemned the marginalization of women, demanding equal rights and opportunities.
The group’s demand is part of activities making the 2025 annual international women’s day celebration.
Speaking on Thursday, at a press conference held at the Ernest Bassey Press Center in Calabar, the group led by the State chapter president, Marjorie Asuquo, the group lamented the exclusion of women from decision-making processes and called for greater representation in politics.
The women’s group emphasized the importance of empowering women and promoting gender equality, stressing that it is essential for the development of the state.
They urged the government to implement policies that suitable policies would support women’s empowerment and provide opportunities for women to participate in politics and other spheres of life.
She said “Women are part of the Society, it is even said that women makes up 50% of the world and we are very proud we are this large.
“We have been having series of activities, trainings, conventions trying to make people know the importance of women.
“This month is a month of celebration, so we are celebrating the women. We talk about women education, training, women and media, women in power.
“We are letting the world to see the importance of women, we want the world specifically in Africa to recognize us women in every facets of life.
“We need this equality, so that the world will move forward. It is generally believed that women has been so marginalized that to bring the women in terms of having equality, and development will take nothing less than 135 years.
“That is why the theme of this year is accelerate action we are ordering and we are pleading that those in authority should do more to hasten this process, should please fight for women and help us to fight poverty, help women to fight all these health challanges so that the world will be a better place to leave on.
” The girl child is part of us and one day they will grow up to become women we demand equality, and inclusivity in everything, every aspects of life”
Echoing her sentiments, a former president of the NWCS, Cross River chapter Rev Grace Ekanem highlighted the importance of addressing social and cultural norms that perpetuate gender inequality.
Grace disclosed that the group demands resonate with the “Accelerate Action” theme for the international women’s day celebration which calls for urgent action to address the systemic barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
“If you deny the girl child of education, you have denied the whole generation of education, because when a woman is educated, gone are the days a woman was not allowed to go to school , now women have women.
“Take a look at Ngozi Okonjo the WTO director general, so many women have made it even in our station please stop marginalizing the girl child our women, let them be educated, let them have those benefits.
“Let us encourage our girl child, let us send them to school. You will see in appointment five, ten members only one is a woman is it fair?
“Inclusiveness, carry us along, a house without a woman is no house, the women know how to manage, we are a very important instrument to the world.
“God created a woman as a helpmates, so that where a man is inadequate a woman will fill in the gap, and make the family better.
“We are encouraging the men, the society to recognize us women and carry us along”.-She said.
