The Senate Committee Chairman on Cooperation & Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Chimaroke Nnamani, has called for the empowerment of women as part of efforts to bridge the gender gap. 

To achieve the objectives, Senator Nnamani wants equal opportunities for women to attain education, economic and political heights like their male counterparts in the country. 

The lawmaker, in a goodwill message to Nigerian women to commemorate this year’s International women’s day in Abuja, called for more opportunities for women to have access to credit facilities to engage in enterprises, education and affordable health care.

On issues of violence against women and girl child, Nnamani advocated for the criminalization of violation of any right of women in the country, saying, “the panacea to the incessant cases of violation of the rights of women is making such acts a criminal offence punishable by law.” 

Nnamani, who represents Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the Senate, lamented that the violation of the rights of women have continued to impede development of the female folks and by extension the nation. 

He listed several cases of violation of women’s rights to include but not limited to domestic violence; wife battering, female genital mutilation, rape, forced marriages, kidnapping and even wars. 

The Senator pointed out that primitive societies in some parts of Africa still deny women access to education, right to own property or vie for elective positions; a development he described as absurd and retrogressive . 

He therefore urged women not to be deterred by the obstacles against them rather they should be determined to do more to surmount the hurdles. 

Nnamani praised women for their indomitable spirits over the years as good managers of human and resources. 

Source: Daily Independent