Charles Ekanem|10 March 2018
As women across the globe today marks 2018 International Women Day with the theme “Press for Progress”, University of Calabar came to a stand still as the Director General of Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu; a one time Vice President of the student Union Government in University of Calabar working through the office of the Vice President SUG Chioma Kalu took thousands of female student on a rally round UNICAL in celebration of the international women's day.
Dr Betta Edu while speaking, admonished female students of University of Calabar to remain focused on their studies and work harder to achieve their dream goals. What a man can do you can do better!
Go all out, don't be intimidated, society needs your contribution, build capacity and press for progress!
Speaking further, Dr Betta Edu disagrees with President Buhari on the role of women in the society as women are capable of handling more complex and sophisticated functions that help build society. She said that women can never be relegated to domestic roles only. She called on Mr. President to take a leave from Governor Ben Ayade who is empowering women as agents of positive change in the society. She recounts that about 10 years ago, she was in the University of Calabar as a student and Vice President of SUG but today, her hard work has earned her a place where she is today and she urges female students not to settled for domestic roles rather they should press for progress in academics, careers and in all spheres of endeavours where their male counterparts thrive.
“you can be a President, Governor, Senator, House of Representatives Member, Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Dean of a faculty, HODs, CEO etc” “All you need to do is work harder and trust God as your source” says Dr Betta Edu.
The students in excitement, all echoed Yes, we are capable!
The DG tasks them on producing the next President of SUG, University of Calabar and promises to sponsor any female candidate for the position.
Also speaking, the Vice President SUG (UNICAL) Miss Chioma Kalu who could not hide her joy of being a woman said she was proud to be a woman. Recounting her beginning as a student in the University of Calabar, when she was in year one, said that, that was the time the DG, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu was the Vice President, SUG and today she (Chioma Kalu) is the Vice President while Dr Betta Edu is a DG.
Chioma therefore urges female students not to look down on themselves but to be more determined in realizing their aspirations.
Charles Ekanem
Writes from Calabar