Glitz and Glamour as SWS Marks 3rd Int’l Confab To Mitigate Marginalization of Women. …call for Active participation of women in decision making and governance

ThankGod EMEH…

Owerri, Imo State capital went agog weekend as Standup for Women Society (SWS) held her third annual International Conference/Summit to address critical issues surrounding women insecurity, maltreatment in society among others.

The International Conference which aimed at appraising the successes, weaknesses and challenges of the association, also afforded the members a time-out for training, learning, relearning good principles as the participants interacted and exchanged cultural heritages across boards, with radio talk shows, Gala night and health walk on Wednesday 11th, and Thursday 12th September 2024 mornings.

The 2024 event themed “Women & Insecurity: Reality, Challenges, Call to Action” equally heralded appreciation of members of the general public as well as SWS members, state chapters and zones of SWS who had in several ways inspired and helped the organization to grow above challenges that could have overwhelmed them.

Addressing the women at the conference, the first lady of Imo state, Barr. Chioma Uzodinma represented by Lib. Dr Rejoice Ndudinachi while welcoming members of SWS to the State urged them to be beacons of hope and support to one another, noting that “women are very important in the society” hence are encouraged to take their places.

Prior to the conference, the International President Standup for Women Society (SWS) Lib. Barr. Deborah Abosede Ijadele-Adetona led a courtesy call to the Deputy governor of Imo State.

In her goodwill message, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Lady Dr Chinyere Ekomaru applauded SWS management for their giant strides especially in women advocacy.

The Deputy Governor however encouraged the organization to also reach out to women with disabilities as well as grassroot women so to give all a sense of belonging while extending goodwill messages from the the State Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma.

Declaring the conference open, the International President Lib. Barr. D. A. Ijadele-Adetona thanked members for turning up en masse as she enumerated the successes and challenges of the organization, while expressing optimism that SWS would become a household name in Nigeria and in the diaspora, hence charged members to live up to expectations.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion Barr. Ogamba asserted that men are incomplete without women, adding that he respects women and is willing to champion the course of women.

Delivering her keynote speech on the theme “Women & Insecurity: Reality, Challenges, Call to Action”, Hon. Justice Alma Eluwa decried all manner of marginalization against women, adding that women are easily affected by insecurity physically, economically and even socially hence they have been violated physically, sexually and psychologically.

She said according to World Bank record, 35% of women in the world have experienced violence with 7% experiencing sexual assault and 38% death from sexual assault.

The Justice who stressed that for women to participate in cubbing insecurity in the nation, women must be involved, however applauded SWS for being in the race while noting that the judiciary has entrenched the rights of women.

She equally identified the challenges of insecurity against women extensively as: inadequate awareness of extant laws; insufficient women in decision making; lack of education for girls; poor coordination among stakeholders; mediation skills; Lobbying skills; inadequate financial empowerment; delayed ratification of internal treaties as well as gender inequality.

Justice Eluwa stressed that the Call to Action is to domesticate and implement the laws for a conducive environment for the security of women.

The second speaker who dwelled on the root causes of insecurity from the spiritual point of view, charged women to go back to the position God kept them in creation as she pointed out social media as a major cause of insecurity and called on women to minimize their activities on social media.

The highlights of the programme included dances and presentation of award to the Deputy governor Dr. Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru and other outstanding persons; as Mrs Chimekwa Iwu was honoured as “The year 2023 most Outstanding National Officer of SWS”