Group convenes 300 men to discuss gender equality

A non-governmental organisation, Voice for Change (V4C), has disclosed its readiness to bring together 300 Nigerian men to discuss issues of gender parity and inclusiveness in Lagos.

 

At a pre-conference briefing held in Lagos, Denis Onoise, Output Leader and Key Influencer V4C, said the idea of convening 300 men from different parts of the country was aimed at driving the message of gender equality which still remained a challenge in this part of the world.

 

 “At V4C, we understand the urgency in driving the message down to key players in ensuring that the idea of seeking 50/50 opportunities for both men and women in all areas of life, are engaged. We hope the summit will allow us to enlighten our men on the need to allow healthy relationship, avoid gender-based violence, support their wives who aspire for political or leadership office, give the same access to education, career opportunities to their girl children, among other issues,” Onoise said.

The output leader further said that while it was important to stress that the advocacy was not one geared at asking women to overtake men in all spheres of their endeavours, it was critical that excuses often attributed to culture, tradition and religion were explained to the concerned persons. 

He said in achieving this, key traditional and religious leaders who are considered as influencers would be brought in to participate and explain the true position of things to the participants.

The Lagos State coordinator of V4C, Ruth Okonya, said the two-day event which will be held on November 2 and 3, 2016, has as its theme: “No Excuse”.  She said the idea of ‘No Excuse’ is predicated on the belief that all male participants who attend the summit will no longer commit the same mistakes others were committing in the society.

“When both men and women work together, there would be a good result. We hope that by this gesture, we would have brought about the much-needed change in some of the challenges confronting women in this country,” Okonya said.