Cleric calls for removal of cultural barriers against women

The president of fellowship of Churches in Nigeria, Reverend Caleb Solomon, has called for the removal of cultural barriers to enable women venture into economically viable businesses dominated by men.

Solomon made the call in his address to mark 2019 Assembly of the Fellowships, held at Church of Brethren headquarters in Kwarhi town of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa.

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“Permit me the chance to once more suggest that, considering the biting economic situation in the country and our effort to survive, we should remove those cultural constrains that have dichotomized labour along gender lines, where certain jobs are for men and some for women.Our female members need to be emboldened to go into such economically-rewarding vocations like automobile repairs, driving of small and large vehicle, barbing, electrical/metal works and masonry, among others, as permitted by our denominational doctrines and practices.

“God has gifted humanity diversity, whether males or females, and without discrimination, and this means that many of the occupations men thrive in, women may even thrive in them better.Let me thus stir up and challenge our womenfolk to venture into such jobs unafraid, that traditionally, were said to be for men,” Solomon said.

The cleric also spoke on challenges posed by climate change and the need for planting of more trees and stoppage of rampant bush burning.

On the approaching 2019 elections, the cleric called for peaceful elections and cautioned against vote-buying, hate speech and use of abusive words during campaigns.

“Government should ensure that hate speech is properly defined in the context of the freedom of speech; Nigerians need to be properly educated and guided on this matter to avoid a back-pedaling effect,” he said.

On security and corruption, he raised concern over growing challenges in those areas and urged government to do more to stem the tide.