Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, has called on the National Assembly to reconsider the gender bills it rejected.
The Association made the call during her peaceful protest to the Anambra State House of Assembly in commemoration of the 2022 International Women’s Day, which was observed yesterday.
Queen Anigbogu reports that while speaking at the protest, the chairperson of the Anambra State Chapter of the association, Mrs Franklyn Onyekachi, pleaded with Anambra lawmakers to use their good offices to appeal to members of the National Assembly to reconsider the gender bills they rejected noting that women need to be given a voice as they are agents of change.
She explained that any nation that does not carry all her citizens along cannot be said to be truly democratic.
Mrs Onyekachi also called for a strict implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibited, VAPP, law in Anambra State.
Responding the Chairman, House Committee on Gender Affairs, Mr Nonso Smart-Okafor, assured the association that its plea will be captured on the floor of the House noting that the House will move a motion to join the women to push for the gender bills to be passed into law.
In his remarks, the member representing Njikoka Constituency One in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr Timothy Ifedioramma, said there is a place for women in governance because they play a pivotal role in families, communities and the nation at large.
He pointed out that culture and religion caused a sharp division in the gender issues and called for more advocacy on the part of women to change people’s mindset towards them.
In their separate remarks, Comrade Monic Okechukwu of Kpakpando FM, and Ebele Eze of the ABS, expressed displeasure on the rejection of the bills and some harmful traditional practices against women and called for a review of the bills.
Meanwhile, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Anambra State chapter, has paid a visit to Tender love Orphanage, Amaenyi Awka, as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day.
The chairperson of the association, Mrs Onyekachi while presenting some items to the orphanage, said the aim of the visit was to show love to the children.
One the officials of the orphanage, Miss Olivia Odunukwe, thanked the association praying God to bless them more.