I AM NOT A WOMAN, BUT THE LEAST I HAVE FOR YOU IS A SALUTE

International Women’s Day 

Even though my mum is unable to write or read an English paragraph and hailing from a society where education is ostracised. And as a single parent, she has stood by us amidst bullying and whispers from those who believe she is doing harm than good.  As out of five children, two f us are at university while the rest are in secondary schools. That is where I start from to eulogise the role of women in transforming our societies.  

As you celebrate international women’s day, I wish to say, enjoy your day.

Swallowing all challenges from domestic violence to rape, defilement (for minors), producing and children upbringing, name them all. For example, a recent analysis of WHO with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Medical Research Council, based on existing data from over 80 countries, found that globally 35% of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. Most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner, in some regions it is much higher. Worldwide, more than 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners. Bearing these mounting, Women’s invaluable contribution to political, economical and social development must be commemorated.

Politically, From Africa to Europe, North and South America, female leaders seem to be doing better than men as far management is concerned. As Margaret Thatcher once said ‘if you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.’

Recently Catherine Samba-Panza was elected as the interim president of the Central African Republic (CAR) after President Michel Djotodia and his Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye were forced to resign on 10^th January this year. They were criticized for their inability to end the violence between Muslims and Christians that plunged the country into security and humanitarian chaos. Djatodia led Seleka Alliance, a rebel group which ousted President Francois Bozize in March 2013.

In Rwanda, women continue to dominate parliament. During September 2013 parliamentary elections, women won 51 seats out of 81 members of the lower house. This increased their presence from 56% to 64% which they first won in 2008 polls.

Beyond Africa, Chancellor Angela Merkel has ruled German since 2005, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has ruled Argentina since 2007, President Dilma Rousseff has ruled Brazil since 2011, Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia has ruled since 2010, etc.

Economically, more and more women are venturing into entrepreneurship. The current list of world billionaires by Forbes Magazine indicated 10% of these billionaires are women. Out of 1,645 global billionaires, a record of 172 are women- up from 138 last year. One of the newcomer self-made billionaires who jammed attention f the public is Folorunsho Alakija ($2.5billion), Nigeria’s first female billionaire. Her oil company Famfa owns a prolific oil bloc.

Socially, late Wangari Maathain (died 2011), the first African woman to win the Nobel peace prize, is a excellent paradigm. A towering figure in Kenya, Maatha was renowned as a fearless social activist and an environmental crusader.

Her work with voluntary groups alerted her to the struggles of women in rural Kenya, and it quickly became her life's cause. Noticing how the rapid environmental degradation was affecting women's lives, she encouraged them to plant trees to ensure future supplies of firewood and to protect water sources and crops.

Maathai's agenda quickly widened as she joined the struggle against the repressive and corrupt regime of Daniel arap Moi. Her efforts to stop powerful politicians grabbing land, especially forests, brought her into conflict with the authorities, and she was beaten and arrested numerous times. Her bravery and defiance made her a hero in Kenya.

From my mum to all women of dependability, thank you. Your global impeccable contributions are visible to the blind and can be bopped to by the deaf.