International Women's Day: Break the Bias

Image: Miss Bamise Ayanwole: kidnap victim

As the world marks International Women's Day, it presents another opportunity to continue the call for gender equality, an all-inclusive government with more women’s involvement, an end to discrimination and all forms of violence against women and girls.

It is also a time to raise our glasses in celebration of all the women breaking the bias and defying all odds to take up responsibilities and careers perceived as male-exclusive.

This day also sets the stage to involve more girls on this journey to achieving gender equality by encouraging them not to relent in pursuing their dreams and stand against all odds to be great women in their various fields.

It is a day to dedicate to all the women and girls who are facing one form of abuse or the other or have paid the ultimate price as a result of their gender such as Miss Bamise Ayanwole the 22-year-old young woman that was kidnapped recently in Lagos and her lifeless body found days later. No woman or girl deserves to suffer such a fate simply because she is perceived as being weak and defenceless.

There is an urgent need for all relevant authorities to put more measures in place to protect women and girls, expedite punishment to perpetrators, pass all women and girl related bills and involve them more in decision making in Nigeria.

Cheers to all the women and girls out there doing so much to keep their homes, schools, communities and countries together despite the odds.

There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel, just keep hope alive.

#breakthebias