BENIN CITY – A Leading Non-Governmental cum Non-Profit Organization (NGO) in the country, CLEEN FOUNDATION recently joined millions of people across the World to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day with an In-school Talk Show” held for the Students of young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Benin City. The one-day sensitization programme of the NGO was aimed at informing the female students that women are critical stakeholders in nation building, hence the need not to see themselves as inferior to the male folks but co-partners in progress.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the sensitization exercise, the Program and Admin Officer of the Foundation in Edo State, Mrs. Blessing Eromon, said that the day was set outside to celebrate women globally especially for their achievements.
Eromon, who described this year’s theme “Gender Equality Today for a sustainable tomorrow” as apt said that gender equality is achievable especially when female children are sensitized early in life.
“I am optimistic that gender equality for women is possible because there is something we call starting small and that is why we have come to the young generations (YWCA) to sensitize them of their importance in nation building.
“That means that there is hope for our tomorrow. When we start it at this early stage to put it in their mind, letting them know who they are and what they have as most women/girls have beautiful leadership potential.
“Gender equality for women is achievable if we all as women come together to support one another, speak the truth against female gender inequality; she posited.
She however admonished the students to be serious with their educational pursuit and always be of good conducts, nothing that the role of women in modern days goes beyond the kitchen and the bedroom.
Speaking also, the initiator of society for Active Awareness for Women and children, Mrs Ronke Ojiekere, said that the children are the future leaders of the society, hence, the need to catch them young.
She commended CLEEN Foundation for the awareness and sensitization exercise, adding that gender equality for the women is not a struggle with the men folks but that women’s voice should be heard.
On her part, a teacher in the school who responded on behalf of the school management, Mrs Cicilia Osekhare, thanked CLEEN Foundation for the enlightenment exercise, just as she called on others to emulate the Foundation towards sensitizing the children.
“I believe the sensitization exercise of CLEEN Foundation will help to prepare the students to becoming better in the future.
“We need more enlightenments, more people to come out and talk more on gender equality for women. So at least, with the coming of CLEEN Foundation to the school, the girls here will be able to pass the information to their friends and it will help in long way to making them better individuals in the future” she opined.
In their Separate reaction, cross section of YWCA students interviewed expressed appreciation to the NGO for bringing what they described as message of hope and development to them.
They assured to that what they were impacted with by CLEEN Foundation to their friends and relatives, just as they appealed for more sensitization on the gender equality for women.
