How time flies!!!
It looks like just yesterday we celebrated the 2022 International Women’s Day on breaking the bias and here we are again.
Last year, I spoke on how Nigeria happened to me. Well, Nigeria is happening to me again this year.
Last year, it was light, this year it is cash. For the past two weeks, I have been stranded at home unable to move about as I would have wanted because of scarcity of naira notes. I even tried looking for where to buy but I couldn’t see anybody that have the new naira notes to sell.
Yes, you heard me right, we now buy our naira notes and at an extremely expensive rate. The last time I saw to buy, I bought 10,000 for 2000, while some other persons bought for as much as 4000 naira. Now, I can’t even get where to buy for that price.
Well, that is the new Nigeria for you. I just hope things return to normal after the upcoming gubernatorial elections.
Enough of the ranting. Back to the main reason for this post:
Today 8 March 2023, we are celebrating the International Women’s Day, which is a day set aside by the United Nations to commemorate the political, cultural, and socio-economic accomplishments of women, as well as raise awareness on topics relating to women such as sexual and gender based violence (SGBV), gender equality, reproductive rights among others. This day also offers us a chance to: reflect on how far we have come in our quest for gender equity; increase the visibility of women working in different spaces; and call out inequality in all its forms.
The theme of this year’s IWD celebration is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, with the hashtag #EmbraceEquity used for social media campaign. This year’s theme is very apt because we live in a world where digital literacy and digital skills have becoming prized possession. In the last few years, there have been significant progress in technological advancement worldwide. Yet, there remains a huge gender gap when it comes to accessing these digital technologies. By choosing this theme, we are reminded of the enormous prospects that digital and innovative technology holds for accelerating gender equality and addressing the developmental needs of women and girls.
In the same vein, the IWD 2023 campaign theme “#EmbraceEquity” is chosen to get the world taking about why equal opportunities are no longer enough but can in fact be exclusionary rather than inclusive. By embracing equity, we recognise that every individual have different circumstances and must be given the opportunities and resources that they need to reach an equal outcome. Equity also recognises that people begin life from different places and circumstances, which can make it difficult for them to achieve the same goals at the same point in time.
For instance, women at times need equitable treatment that takes into consideration some of their unique peculiarities such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, childcare, among others. So, as we celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day, let us continue to educate the world on the differences between equality and equity and on the need for us to work together to transform structural barriers that get in the way of people’s ability to flourish. By embracing equity, we are embracing inclusion and diversity in all its forms. Through the process of equity, we can reach equality, which is the end-goal.
Let me conclude by reiterating one of the points I raised last year. As women, the IWD reminds us of some of the distinctive assets we have: resilience, bold, compassionate, tenacious, versatile, classy, teachable, go-getters, intelligent, godly, confident, and beautiful. To all the astounding women in the world doing wonderful thing in their various spaces; women who continue to break glass ceilings; women who continue to fight for a just, inclusive, and equitable world; spirited women who refused to be made invisible; women challenging negative gender norms and men who have been supportive in the fight towards gender equity. I say to you today and always, shine on and shine bright.