By Blessing Chinagorom
Nigerian First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has said that it is imperative that Nigerians in particular and Africans in general recognize that education plays a pivotal role in shaping attitudes, beliefs and behaviours from an early age.
Oluremi Tinubu who joined other African First Ladies under the auspices of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, (OAFLAD) in Angola to launch WeAre Equal campaign noted that education remains a critical component of any progressive society.
She added that early education should be treated with utmost importance while speaking against the background of using education to combat child, youth violence in Africa, seeking the inclusion of activities to help dismantle notions of gender specific roles in teaching.
According to her, “When gender equity becomes an integral part of our educational system, there’ll be a shift in societal attitudes whereby boys and men learn to respect and value women and girls as equals, reducing the likelihood of engaging in violent behaviour”.
“We are not unmindful of girls and women who have been victims and survivors. I chose education to drive the # WE Are Equal Campaign and specifically adopted the Alternative High School For Girls as the focus”, she said.
Nigerian First Lady who decried the spate of gender and domestic violence especially the incidences of rape and defilement saying an educated and well informed people of both gender would abstain from such.
“Education is not simply about acquiring knowledge and skills; it is about instilling values of respect, empathy and understanding.
“The jotowards this goal requires the collective efforts of everyone. Therefore, I charge us all to commit ourselves to this important cause, for the sake of our children, the youth, and for generations yet unborn”.
In his address to declare the conference open, the President of Angola Manuel Goncalves Lourenco urged First Ladies to lend their voices to quel the various conflicts around the world especially as women and children are the worst affected.
He said, “By providing equal opportunities for girls and women to actualize their full potentials, it will go a long way to eliminate the belief of supremacy of men above women”.
He commended OAFLAD for its efforts at giving women an audible voice in ensuring the building of a society where men and women have equal rights and opportunities.
Angolan First Lady Ana Dias Lourenco promised to sustain the fight against rape and see to the enhancing of legislation to punish perpetrators appropriately.
The launch of the #WE Are Equal Campaign for Angola had as its theme the role of education in achieving gender equality as a means to combat child and youth violence.
In attendance were First Ladies of Sao Tome, Cape Verde, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and representatives of others. The campaign is one of the efforts of the OAFLAD to improve women’s equity and related issues in the continent.
