2024 Int’l Women’s Day: CDHI hosts symposium to promote women inclusivity

As part of its initiatives to commemorate the 2024 International Women’s Day, a non-governmental organization, Caritas Development and Health Initiative (CDHI), has called for collective efforts in exploring innovative strategies that will unlock the full potential of every woman in the society.

CDHI made the call at its one-day Symposium held at the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Conference hall in Abuja on Thursday, March 7th, 2024.

The event whose aim was to encourage government and stakeholders to prioritize women empowerment, well-being, and inclusivity across all level, has as its theme ‘Empowering women in Nigeria: fostering inclusivity for sustainable development’

During her address, Blessing Olugbuyi, the founder and Executive Director of CDHI, emphasized that the key objective of the inaugural symposium was to honor and celebrate women in Nigeria while striving to eliminate their marginalization, both nationally and globally.

“We aim to address the issue of gender inequality by advocating for increased representation of women, particularly in fields traditionally dominated by men such as science, politics, and technical jobs. Our goal is to ensure active participation and engagement of women in these areas”, she said.

According to her, the symposium functions as a forum for dialogue, collaboration, and motivation to address the plight of the Nigerian woman.

She however expressed gratitude for the presence of esteemed speakers, experts, and advocates who share the organisations commitment to women’s empowerment.

Appreciating supports from UNESCO, PLAN International, UNFPA, UN Women, the French Embassy, Scholar Media Africa in Kenya, and other important stakeholders, Olugbuyi highlighted that CDHI has effectively conducted a series of educational and sensitization outreach programs on sexual reproductive rights in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anambra, Kebbi Benue State and others, as part of its commitment to enhancing the well-being of women and young people in Nigeria.

However, in order to facilitate the comprehensive inclusion of women and enable them to fulfill their potential, the Executive Director urged policymakers, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders to promptly address the following areas: prioritizing women’s education, eliminating gender-based violence, and promoting economic empowerment.

Additional action points encompass ensuring equal political representation, guaranteeing access to quality healthcare, cultivating a culture of inclusivity and gender equality, and enhancing collaboration and accountability measures.

The symposium’s focal point featured a discussion panel session, a short film on gender-based violence, question and answer segment, and a group photograph with participants.