Women in leadership positions in the AUN Community have voiced their support for more recognition to the influential role women are playing in building the Nigerian society. (Please use this link to read President Margee Ensign’s article in the AUN Premium Times digital hub on why gender equity is important for Nigeria https://www.premiumtimesng.com/aun-pt-data-hub/516012-iwd-why-gender-equity-is-important-for-nigeria-by-margee-ensign.html)
On March 8, as the world celebrated the International Women's Day with the theme 'Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,' the Vice President of Women Leadership Council, a student advocacy association, Naomi Biebele Somiari, and Head of Training and Schedule in the AUN Safety and Security Department, Zainab Zubairu, were on television leading a conversation on the growing role and profile of women in Nigeria and the challenges they still encounter.
Appearing live on the popular Gotel Television morning show Safiya, Miss Naomi Somiari advocated reviewing society's role definition and expectations for women.
"These days we have women and girls all over the world who are excelling in their professions and in the schools. In AUN, for instance, we have a lot of girls doing well in academics, who are at the top of their classes and making the honor's list. If our girls can excel in school, why can't women be involved and included in strategic positions in society?"
Ms. Naomi's view is that while bias and stereotyping can limit women's role, society benefits more when women are given more opportunities to contribute to national development.
Ms. Zainab Zubairu shared her experience serving in the AUN Safety and Security department, and made a case for girls to be granted the freedom to chase their career dreams and choices.
"We need to start from the family level with proper orientation of the girl child. The action should begin from homes and schools because that is the foundation of learning."
To add more substance to this year’s celebration, the AUN Safety and Security Department women visited inmates in the Yola Correctional Facility. Every year, these remarkable women engage in impactful charitable activities to commemorate the International Women's Day. This year, they chose to share their precious time with those behind bars to lift their spirits and revive their belief in the goodness of humanity. They took household provisions and personal items for the inmates, including toothpaste, body creams, sanitary pads, undergarments, bathroom slippers, bathing soaps, detergents, and shaving sticks. The inmates expressed immense gratitude towards the gesture through their leader. They said such items come on infrequent occasions.
The delegation leader, Ms. Linda Benson, explained that the day is much more than just celebrations.
"We do things quite differently at AUN because we like to take the lead. On the occasion of the International Women's Day, we don't just celebrate, we organize a committee within our department to empower and educate other women. We also take out time to visit the needy in hospitals and orphanages. But this year we expanded our visit to the Correctional Facility. We want the inmates to know that they have not been forgotten.
"Women are very important in society. We should not hold back on our potentials", she added.
Reported by Tina Bitrus