Women charged to break stereotypes

Women have been urged to reach out and break natural and societal barriers and not allow the stereotyped views of the society to keep them back from achieving their desired goals.

This is the position of participants at the 2018 National Women’s Summit of the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association (OYSOWA) with the theme:”Against All Odds,” held at The International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, recently.

The Chairperson of OYSWOWA, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, in her welcome address stated  that:“We must come to the realisation that this is an era of women emancipation and liberation. Now is the time to arise and take decisive action for change against all odds. No longer must we be figure-heads, we must make our voices heard and our impact felt strongly against all odds.”’

Why I wanted to become a Catholic priest — Charlyboy

A Consultant on Drug Control, Crime Prevention, Children and Youth Issues with Freedom Foundation, Mrs. G. O. Adetula, while speaking on the topic: Tackling Drug Abuse in Women and Children, traced the reasons behind the use of drugs to include peer pressure, resistance to authority, unemployment, child labour and so on.

She posited that “effective drug abuse prevention programmes rarely use one prevention strategy exclusively. In general, the lessons learned and the experiences of  several decades of drug prevention suggest that three general elements should be included in prevention programmes.

“They are; addressing the values, perception, expectations and beliefs that young people associate with drugs and drugs abuse, developing life skills and social competences to increase the capacity to make informed and healthy choices and creating an environment where children and young people have the possibility to be involved in healthy activities where substance abuse is not promoted by peers, family and the media.”

According to her,  parental awareness plays an important role and is a first step in potential for deterring drug use. Parents were thereby advised to look out for signs and symptoms of drug abuse in their children  and among his peers and friends.”

The second session titled “Rocks in the Mattress” was anchored by Dr NkemOkoro founder of “The Wife”, an organization that trains women to excel in their marriages.  She spoke on the importance of sex in marriage as something that should improve relationship between spouses.  Factors enriching marital sex were highlighted from the physical, emotional and mental angles.  She emphasized that as couples grow older, because of the ageing process sexual challenges crop up, she advised that medical consultants should be contacted for solutions.

Dr (Mrs) Adeola Faleye of the department of Linguistics and African Languages in the Faculty of Arts, OAU, Ile-Ife, speaking on Parenting Values and Ethics said achieving the peak of success as good parents need proper mentoring and monitoring through all activities at home and in the community.

In her own presentation entitled, My Home, My Constituency, (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi said the major ingredient for a successful marriage is a strong determination by the woman to protect her home at all cost, against all odds.      According to her, Communication, perseverance, forgiveness, not taking one’s spouse for granted all contributes to a successful marriage.

Dr Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri a consultant neuro-psychiatrist and psychiatrist in her own paper entitled; “How are you?  Really, how are you? Posited that mental health problems can happen to anyone at some point which can affect their daily lives, relationships or physical health.  Vulnerability risk factors for mental health problems include loss of parents, siblings, or spouses; not being gainfully employed and loneliness.  According to her, the importance of communication and friendship between spouses as a major factor in having the right mental health attitude.

Nollywood actress, Joke Silva while speaking on the topic; “Breaking Glass Ceiling,” gave  examples of Nigerian Women from the 12th Century till date, who broke the glass ceiling in their time and  made remarkable achievements in their different endeavours.  She emphasized the need for women to galvanise action in penetrating the political space