The Ministry of Women Affairs has tasked Nigerians to promote gender equality in the country.
The Minister, Pauline Tallen, made this call to Nigerians at the fifth edition of Generation Equality International Football Tournament organised by Fame Foundation, a Non-governmental Organisation.
As part of the activities to mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the minister said women should be given the opportunity to be policymakers.
“God did not make a mistake by creating a woman. He didn’t create a woman to be trampled upon.
“He created women to be a help-mate, a partner in progress, so we are calling on Nigerian men and everyone to join hands together and move the issue of women forward,’’ Tallen said.
The minister also called on women in the country to continue to strive.
“I pray that this year’s IWD will be better than the previous years, even though we had setbacks following the gender equality bill that was rejected by the National Assembly.
“We are not giving up; we will continue to push until we change the mindset of people and improve the participation of women in politics and beyond,” Tallen said.
The United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria, Comfort Lamptey, who at the event, said sports and football, in particular, were tools to advocate gender equality.
“It is important to use football as a mechanism to show how women can come together and push gender equality.
“March 8 is a day we celebrate women and today we are doing that through this football match.
“We will also take stock of the work that needs to be done and we know that in Nigeria our work is not done yet.
“Also for the benefit of these young women who are participating in this competition, I think it is very important that we put in place measures so that all Nigerians can realise their full potential.
“This is a message we are communicating through this football match today,’’ Lamptey said.
On her part, Aderonke Bello, the Executive Director of Fame Foundation, said, “Nigeria is heterogeneous in nature. We have our diversity in terms of religion, tribe, geopolitical zone and more.
“The only thing that brings us together is sports, especially football.
“That is why we are using this unifying factor as a tool for social change to preach against gender inequality, gender-based violence and call for gender equity.”
Meanwhile, a total of 10 teams featured in the 2022 edition of the event.
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