PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES
Stakeholders Commend Women's Role In Peace Building At Int'l Women's Day
- Details
- Published: 19 June 2017
Despite the patriarchal nature of African societies, the role of women in fostering peace and reducing conflicts formed the main thrust of the 2017 International Women's Day on Peace and Disarmament celebrated at the Auditorium of the Centre for Gender and Conflict Studies (CCGS) on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
The event which had the theme: Re-Source Sustainability Academy, attracted stakeholders from civil society organisations, as well as women groups and media practitioners.
Speaking at the occasion, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lale, described the conference as timely, saying that it was important to address issues of conflict which negatively affected women and children more than any other group in society. “Women play an important role in the harmony that exists in any organisation or society today and it is important that we support them to do more.” The Vice-Chancellor said that he was impressed by the quality of participants invited to speak and make contributions at the conference, praising the leadership of the Centre for the focused direction and purposeful activities that have drawn global attention to it.
In their separate presentations, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nkoyo Toyo, President of the University of Port Harcourt Women Association (UPWA), Mrs. Joy Lale and a Global Peace Educator from New Zealand, Mr. Alyn Ware, stressed the important position of women in ensuring that issues of conflict were addressed in a holistic manner. Mr. Ware was particular in his insistence that peace and harmony should become dominate ingredients in a crises-ridden world. They highlighted critical roles played by women locally and internationally in the attainment of a peaceful and conflict-free society.
In his address, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Kinikanwo Anele, said that such an event designed to mark this year's International Women's Day for Peace was very important as there could be no meaningful achievement without a peaceful and harmonious society that gave women a pride of place.
Also speaking, Executive Director of Home of Mother Earth Foundation, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, said that the event was designed to also honour outstanding women whose activities had fostered peace and gender development in the society.
Earlier in his welcome address, Acting Director of the Centre, Dr. Fidelis Allen, said that the event was part of the Centre's strategy of highlighting the critical role played by women in societal development and building peace in a troubled world.
Highlight of the event was awards and special recognition of Ambassador Toyo, Mrs. Lale, as well as the Rumuekpe Prayer Warrior Group, for their respective roles in creating a peaceful environment and enhancing opportunities for peace, civic education and child upbringing in the society.
