By Kelvin Obambon
The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) has called for improvement in the socioeconomic conditions of women, lamenting that most women around the world, and especially in Nigeria, live in poverty.
Mrs Marjorie Asuquo, President NCWS, Cross River chapter, made the call on Thursday during a press briefing in Calabar to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day celebration.
According to Asuquo, 30 years after the Beijing Conference, not much has been done to elevate the status of women in the society, as most of them were still being marginalized and excluded in the scheme of things, even though they make up 50 percent of the world population.
“We are here to speak about women. Women are part of the society. But women are still crying of marginalization. We have been having series and series of activities, conventions trying to make the world to know about the plights of women. We all know that most women are not doing well. Most women are poor,” she said.
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The President stated that the Council would use the International Women’s Day month to draw attention to contemporary and emerging issues affecting women such as HIV/AIDs, trafficking, forced marriage, property grabbing, female genital mutilation, among others. She declared that women need equality, equity, inclusivity, development and peace so that the world will move forward.
“We are pleading that those in authority should do more to help us fight poverty. You should help women to fight health issues. You should help women to fight all these challenges so that the world will be a better place for a woman,” she appealed.
Speaking also, former president of NCWS in the state, Rev. Grace Ekanem, opined that men should be concerned about the plights of women because according to her, women are their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters.
“When you deny a girl child education, you have denied a whole generation. Gone are the days a woman was not allowed to go to school. The society benefits from an educated woman. Let us encourage our girl child. As we encourage our girl child, let us also encourage our boys. We need inclusiveness. We should be carried along,” she said.
Commenting, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, while wishing NCWS a happy women’s day celebration, called on government to ensure adequate protection of the rights of women in the society.
The Paradise News reports that the National Council of Women’s Societies is a non-governmental and non-partisan women’s organization composed of a network of independent women organizations in Nigeria binding together to use NCWS’ platform to advocate gender welfare issues to the government and society.
