By Nkechi Ojukwu
Professor Celestine Onwuliri Foundation ,PROFOUND in collaboration with CWO Amuzi and Amuzi Widows Association has celebrated International Women’s Day in grand style .
The partnership has been seen as a demonstration of a strong commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality in the community.
Professor (Mrs). Viola Onwuliri, the former Imo State Commissioner for Education, who was the Chief Host, celebrated International Women’s Day with the women of Amuzi Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State. The event had as its theme, “Accelerate Action,” aimed to empower women, especially rural women, and promote their rights.
The former education Minister pointed out that by working together, these organizations can amplify their impact and create a more significant difference in the lives of women and girls.
” It’s essential to recognize the importance of collaboration and collective action in achieving social change”,she stated.
Prof. Viola emphasized the importance of International Women’s Day, recalling its origin in 1908 when women in New York protested against mistreatment and demanded government action. She encouraged the women to have faith in God, train their children well, and maintain a cordial relationship with them.
Professor Viola also advised parents to engage their children in skills that would benefit them in the future, particularly girls, to prevent them from being sexually harassed. She concluded by urging the women to shun negative behaviours and accelerate action in empowering themselves and their communities.
The Chairman of the Occasion, Barr. Stella Kadurumba emphasis the need to empower women with skills to earn a living and cautioned against criminal activities which
is crucial for community development.
“Encouraging women to acquire skills can help reduce poverty and inequality, making them less vulnerable to criminal influences .
“It’s alarming to note that criminal activities like stealing, vandalism, armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder can have devastating effects on community reputation, safety, and well-being. These actions not only harm individuals but also erode trust and social cohesion”,she enthused.
To address these concerns,she posited that it’s essential to engage parents, community leaders, and elders in guiding the youth and teaching them values like integrity and hard work.
This collective effort,she maintained can help prevent criminal involvement and foster a safer, more resilient community.
Barr. Kadurumba lined out some effective strategies for crime prevention which include: Community Engagement; Encouraging citizen participation in decision-making processes to build trust and foster collective action,
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED); using physical environmental features to reduce crime and fear of crime .
The others are; Social Programs, Implementing initiatives that address social issues like poverty, inequality, and education to reduce criminal tendencies and also
Collaborative Policing; fostering partnerships between law enforcement agencies, community leaders, and residents to develop targeted crime prevention strategies”.
The event featured several speakers who shared valuable insights on various topics that related to women’s empowerment and parental authority.
Speaking also ,Rev. Fr. Clement Okoro emphasized the importance of women knowing their rights and speaking out against domestic violence and molestation. He also stressed the need for women to participate in leadership and public offices to showcase their talents.
In the same manner, Barr. Ibekwe Magnus Kadurumba discussed the importance of women knowing their rights in society and exercising them when necessary. He highlighted the need for women to be treated equally and to have access to their rights, including inheritance and property rights.
Rev. Father Jude Osondu spoke on parental authority, emphasizing the importance of spiritual upbringing in training children. He noted that moral consciousness and economic parental authority are essential in shaping children’s behavior and empowering them to make positive choices. However, he lamented that social media has eroded parental authority, leading to children being more influenced by online content than parental guidance.
Overall, the speakers provided valuable insights and perspectives on the importance of empowering women and promoting positive parental authority. Their messages emphasized the need for women to know their rights, participate in leadership, and be treated with dignity and respect.
The event which held at the CWO Hall in Amuzi Ahiara Ahiazu Mbaise, featured cash gift to the women from Prof Viola, demonstrating her commitment to supporting and uplifting women in her community.
A Communique was issued at the end of the joyous event.
