We Challenge Our Husbands’ Decision To Deny Our Girl Child, Education _ Aisha
By Prosper Okoye –
A Female Participant, Aisha Muhammed, has said that women who are involved in the APIN gender training program, challenge their husbands’ decision to keep their female children out of school.
Aisha revealed that the gender training has taught the women the importance of female child education, while speaking today, at the 2022 International Women Day celebration, organized by APIN for the Hausa community in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital.
“If I had gone to school earlier, I would have become the president of Nigeria,” Aisha says, “I I’ve sent all my daughters to school, so they don’t get denied of social opportunities, as I have.”
The Benue State Aids Prevention In Nigeria (APIN) gender focal person, Beatrice Ngozi, charged the women to keep speaking up, until all forms of social bias against women are eliminated in their homes and in the society in general.
“We have accepted the roles that our culture has assigned to us for too long. This year’s International Women’s Day theme: ‘Break the Bias,’ is a call to all of us, to go out of our cultural and political box. We can be more than just being supporters of the male folks,” she said.
She also advised the women to take charge of the sexual and reproductive decisions in their homes, as she gave out condoms and lubricants to them.
The Benue State commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Tabitha Igirgi, lamented that women have had lesser privileges in every sphere of society.
Mrs. Igirgi who was represented by the ministry’s OVC Desk Officer, Fidelis Alumunku, urged the Hausa men, who were present at the event to make a change.
“Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together, we must work, to create this world.” The Commissioner charged.
Speaking, Assistant Secretary of Benue state Islamic Scholar, Haruna Rasheed, said the entire Muslim community “is happy to celebrate this year’s international women’s day with the women, and to join them in breaking the Bias.”
He further stated: “It is the nature of Man to be angry when his wife give birth to a girl child. But God asks him, ‘why are you angry?’ ‘am I not the one that gives you both male and female children?’ ‘Why the Bias?'”.
Malam Haruna added that the Islamic religion has placed the man and woman as equals, and does not promote work or educational bias.
“We promote equal rights among our women, at the same time, we teach them not to exceed their limits. We teach them to respect and maintain their religious rules and regulations,” He said.
An Highlight of the event was a good-will presentation, by the program manager, First Step Action For Children Initiative, Ene Ogbiloja.
