The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has called for more commitment from stakeholders on gender issues in order to ensure greater human development.
Egbewole made the appeal Tuesday in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, while declaring open an international conference, entitled: “DigitAll: Innovation and Technology For Gender Equality”.
The event was organised by the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Unilorin, to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD).
Egbewole stressed that gender issues were emotive phenomena, as the issue affects and concerns every member of the human community in one way or the other.
The Vice Chancellor who is a Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, said “we must acknowledge the fact that we are all products of women”.
According to him, we owe it a duty to ensure that the interests of women are protected to ensure human development.
He commended the Head and members of the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law for organising the event, which he said explained the respect the university has for women as well as its interest on gender issue.
He encouraged the Department to ensure that the subsequent editions of the programme are better publicised and organised to ensure more participation.
The vice chancellor also urged the Department to ensure that resolutions are passed to the institution’s authorities for them to be properly driven.
Also speaking, Prof. Nimah Abdulraheem, a former Head of the Department, encouraged the Federal Government to declare the International Women Day as a public holiday in Nigeria as it is done in several other countries of the world.
Abdulraheem added that the Department would continue to be at home with gender care and protection of the vulnerable members of the society.
She said it was important for issues relating to women to be given due attention by all and sundry, adding that “women rights are human rights”.
Also a Professor of Law from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Ganiyah Adesina-Uthman, decried the inelegant treatment women were often exposed to in Nigeria, particularly in leadership recruitment.
In her paper presentation entitled: “Women as Core Agent of Sustainable Development”, she urged political leaders in the country to ensure that women are given their fair shares of elective and appointment positions.
Uthman also charged the authorities of Unilorin to ensure the enthronement of gender mainstreaming in the appointments of lecturers.
