2018 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

This year’s edition would be marked on the 8^th of March; the theme for this year’s IWD is PRESS FOR PROGRESS.

The theme is coined to help galvanise support for strong call to action from everyone to press forward and progress gender parity. And also there is need for communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

According to the world economic forum’s 2017 global gender gap report findings, gender parity is over 200 years away. So the aim of the theme is to encourage people to continue the vocal fight for equality. We are all enjoined to participate in the campaign both online and offline. The online campaign would be done with the hashtag #pressforprogress #IWD

Women, especially in this part of the world are known to be industrious and in most cases are the providers for their families. They are often times left with the sole responsibility of feeding and nurturing their offspring from cradle to adulthood without being accorded the appropriate recognition or support from any quarters.

CISCOPE in all its humanitarian interventions, always give priority to women, and have also been able to successfully support women especially in the area of agriculture.

Raqiya Gambo, an IDP from Madagali but resides in lainde in Girei LGA of Adamawa state, have been empowered by CISCOPE through the 2017/18 farming intervention program supported by FAO in Girei. Raqiya demonstrated the will to work and be productive. From the vegetable seeds and fertilizer she got, she was able to cultivate and maintain a farm where she produces vegetable for her family’s consumption and for sale too, so as to realise income.

Fadimatu Abubakar, an indigene of Yola in Yola south of Adamawa state, was a beneficiary in the dry season farming inputs distribution done by CISCOPE in her locality with support from FAO. She got the inputs and was able to secure about half a hectare of land along Jimeta-Yola town road. She was able to plant the six varieties of vegetable seeds given to her and the crops are doing well. She is known among even the male folks as an industrious woman. She was grateful for the support given to her and also called on other organisations to emulate such gesture by CISCOPE/FAO so as to better the lot of women in the society.

Hussaina Abdullahi Abubakar 25, a widow and mother of six. Her husband was killed by Islamic insurgents (boko haram) in buni yadi, Yobe state. Ever since the demise of her husband she has been the only person taking care of her children. She got farm inputs from CISCOPE. Her vegetable farm is doing very well and she said this intervention will be of immense help to her family.

These is just a sample of one of the ways CISCOPE have succeeded in bettering the lives of thousands of women in Nigeria especially north-east Nigeria. Women should be supported by all and sundry. There is need to bridge the gap in areas of culture, the economy and even the political space so that women would have a sense of belonging and also be allowed to make their contributions.