Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS) has called on men to support females and partner with them for the sake of national development and cohesion.
CWEENS is a women’s network focused on women empowerment, tackling gender-based violence, girl-child mentoring and female leadership development.
The national coordinator of CWEENS Professor Funmi Para-Mallam made the call in Jos the Plateau State capital at an award ceremony for women who have represented the women creditably well, distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavours and have advanced the causes of women in several ways.
She said promoting and advancing the causes of women in Nigerian society is vital, and therefore, there is a need to recognize women who have played vital roles in this respect in March, which is the month of the International Women’s Day celebration.
According to Professor Para-Mallam, both men and women share a common desire to improve society and to have a better nation. She thanked all the men (called He-for-She) who support women’s activities and uplift women.
“Our women empowerment programmes and our desire for continuous men’s support is not because we want to take over from the men, but because the women want to partner with the men in nation building, so that the Nigerian eagle will not fly on one wing but with both wings for the upliftment of the nation.
“It is a platform for Christian women (as a group or as an individual) to come together with other women and network to make sure that women across the Nigerian society are empowered,” she said.
Among the awardees are the Gender Court Judge High Court of Plateau State, Hon. Justice Mary Izam, the Country Director of Women for Women International Nigeria, Bukola Adeola Onyishi, the Director General of Plateau Peace Building Agency, Julie Sanda, and the Plateau State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Caroline Panglang.
