By Vera Samuel Anyagafu
The Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in Nigeria, Ambassador Darkey, has said that diplomatic relation between South Africa and Nigeria remains intact.
Darkey said this while emphasising the importance of having more women in global positions at a one- day forum organised by the South African Consulate General in Lagos to mark their annual women’s day.
According to him, Over 50 per cent of the continent, which are women are denied the opportunities that they should have, saying, there are certain prejudices and stereotypes that limit the ability of the African continent to achieve its purpose.
He said, ”If we have half of our population, which are the women, not allowed to help us solve our problems, we would not grow.” Africa has got everything it takes to become great. If we can leave out certain traditions, religious biases used to suppress women, we are going to go far.”
He also did not forget to pay tribute to the over 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9,1956 to protest against the extension of Pass Laws to women.
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The one-day forum which came under the theme, “Women’s socio economic rights and empowerment: building back better for women resilience” also deliberated on how women can build resilience so as to take up global positions.
Women’s socio-economic rights and empowerment was over and above several other issues discussed at the one-day forum.
He also advised African leaders, that while pursuing the objectives and aspirations of Agenda 2063, they should ensure that women are not a footnote of what will happen in the future because they should be allowed to contribute adequately to the society.
Corroborating with him, the Consul General of the Cameroonian Consulate in Nigeria, Manga Bessem, who affirmed that there are no limits in diplomacy, said that, “When you are a woman, you have an advantage, because collectively, when women are on the table, the discussion is different.”
However, she came out to encourage more women into politics.
“As women, we should support other women trying to make impacts”, even as she called for deeper collaboration among women.
Also speaking, Managing Director/ CEO of NMO Management Limited, Dr. Ngozi Omambala, who called on women to get involved in politics, also commended South Africa Consulate for the laudable forum.
