Empowering women amplifies voice to tackle challenges – NOWA Vice President
By Faith Awa Maji
The Vice President of Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) and wife of Rear Admiral JD Akpan, Mrs Zainab Akpan has called on government, Non-Governmental Organisations and well meaning individuals to empower women for overall development.
She stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday.
According to her, ‘empowering women is crucial for bridging the gender inequality gap in homes and society.
“In today’s context, empowering women amplifies their voice to tackle challenges like poverty, inequality and discrimination in their homes, workplaces, and communities.
“Women empowerment also enables them to contribute significantly to family and national economies, boosting their self-worth.
“It grants them access to opportunities and resources, allowing them to make choices and control their lives.
“This, in turn, influences social change, creating a more just social and economic order nationally and internationally.”
She further stated that women empowerment touches on the five cardinal points of development of social, psychological, educational, economic and political.
Mrs Zainab Akpan also noted that empowering women means empowering the nation, building a stronger society noting that they are vital links between youths and men at home and in society, positively influencing their communities hence it can be achieved through training and education, networking and support.
Radio Nigeria’s reporter and National Secretary of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Wasilah Ladan, told FMBlog that, Mrs Akpan added that empowerment inspires women to make a significant impact, just like notable women such as Ladi Kwali, Amina J. Muhammed, Malala Yousafzai, Hajiya Fatima Kurfi, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Dora Akunyili. We have seen countless examples of empowered women making a difference in their communities and the world.