By Hassan John
The Chairman of the 10-member Summit Advisory Committee (SAC) of the WODDI Inspiring Women Summit, Moses Okpara, has said that Summit will provide a supportive network for women to share their experiences, learn from each other, build strong relationships and raise awareness about the importance of mental health and providing resources for women to access support and care.
He stated this at the inauguration of a 10-member Summit Advisory Committee (SAC) that will organise a two-day WODDI Inspiring Women Summit themed: ‘Inspired to be Complete Woman’, in Abuja.
He expressed concern that the challenges bedeviling the Nigerian woman have not been fully addressed by the relevant authorities.
“The Nigerian woman is recognized on paper, but I don’t think it is the same in reality. It is far from reality. There are a lot of issues that have affected the Nigerian woman that we should have taken more seriously than we have taken it in this country. Issues around rape, gender based violence and many others,” he said.
He insisted that the Summit will make the needed impact on the life of any woman and man that will be fortunate to attend.
“Our expectation is that anybody that comes to this Summit will come out a champion. When they come, they will be equipped to go back and transform their world.
“If we have 1000 participants, at the end of the day, we are releasing addition change agents whether they are men or women that attend the summit.
“This is a Summit where the fire of transformation is going to be lit in the heart of the participants and I can assure you, things will change.
“It is about changing the mindset, it is about changing the family values in the right essence, it is about talking about the right things that should be done.
“It is about talking about social contemporary issues that affect the women. It is also about the man understanding that he has a role to play in things that will happen.”
Speaking on the objectives of the Summit, Mr. Okpara said that it is aimed at empowering women to become more confident and self-assured individuals who can make informed decisions about their lives; empowering women to recognize and manage their emotions in a healthy way, including coping with stress and building resilience.
These will be mainstreamed while prioritizing the home front and the family, ensuring effective parenting and encouraging women to pursue their passions and interests, enabling them to develop their talents fully.
Other objectives of the Summit, he explained, include promoting gender equality by challenging stereotypes and cultural norms that limit women’s potential and provide a supportive network for women to share their experiences, learn from each other and build strong relationships and to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and providing resources for women to access support and care.
Earlier, while inaugurating the committee, the former first lady of Imo State, Mrs. Zinaria Nneoma Rochas Okorocha, called on political leaders at all levels to open the space for more women involvement in decision-making.
While stressing that women are key to the development of any society, Mrs. Okorocha said that a woman is a nurturer and that what a woman did not nurture dies.
“I want use this opportunity to urge these people that God has given the opportunity to be elected into various positions, starting from local government to state houses of Assembly and the federal to understand that the woman is key.
“We need her involvement. We need her to be part of the system and decision making.
“A woman is a nurturer. Whatever a woman does not nurture dies. Please give the woman a chance to be part of what we are doing.”
The target participants of the Summit, according to her, include the girl-child, ladies and women from all works of life.
