Mr Darkey Africa, the Consul General of South Africa in Lagos has said societies will prosper when women are treated with honour, dignity and given the freedom to make choices.
Darkey made this known on Friday at the celebration of South Africa’s National Women’s Day in Lagos.
Our correspondent reports that South Africa marks Women’s Month in August yearly.
It is used to pay tribute to the over 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on Aug. 9, 1956 to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
The celebration, themed “Women’s Socio-economic Rights and Empowerment: Building back better for Women’s Resilience” highlighted the struggles women face in the quest for gender equality.
Darkey said it had been 67 years of being reminded about equality and the dignity of all human beings, noting that all stereotypes and prejudices against women should be challenged.
According to him, if women are not part of decision making processes in the society, we do not have a society.
“The dictum that women are nurturers of peace, builders of society and fighters for the future of children stands forever.
“I wish that the spirit of 1956 could envelope women today so they can say to everything that stops them from becoming what they want to become — you tamper with women, you have struck a rock and will be crushed no matter who you are.”
Darkey said that Africans should start working towards the type of Africa they want in the future.
The consul general said that African leaders must begin to govern and stop reacting to global events.
“If we govern, we are honouring our people, just like women in 1956 decided to take away the powers of the oppressors,” Darkey said.
Similarly, Madame Manga Bessem, Consul General of the Cameroonian Consulate, said collectively, when women are at decision making tables, the discussions are different.
She said that in diplomacy, there was no limit to what a woman could achieve.
“As women, we should support other women trying to make impacts because they will work for us even globally.
“The problems of women are the same across the globe and I am out there to encourage more women to delve into sectors they deem fit.”
Speaking during a panel discussion, Dr Chinyere Almona, Director-General Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) said to increase the participation of women in affairs, certain traditional barriers should be dealt with.
On her part, the present day challenge is that “we are not sufficiently equipping the girl child to become the woman we want her to be”.
According to her, parents should do better in raising their boys and make them aware that girls are no different from them intellectually.
She stressed that women should tell more of their stories and urged the media to play a significant role by sharing these.
“Let us also look around our environments and find those in fields we are passionate about.
“Find a mentor and learn from others because this is a great way to move ahead,” Almona said.
Also speaking on the panel, Lusanda Chauke, a South African filmmaker and Founder, Blaque Roots Production, urged women to create sisterhoods where they could support and encourage one another.
Chauke noted that women in media were taking the lead and making progress because they were shakers and unafraid of telling their stories.