By Ruth Oginyi
Professor Grace Umezurike, Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, monday said it is rare for women to support their fellow women in the society but that the women folk are beginning to change such bad attitude.
Prof Umezurike the first female SSG in Ebonyi state also said that mothers are more caring than fathers in the society.
She spoke in Abakaliki, the state capital when the Association of Women Journalists(NAWOJ) led by Mrs. Nkechinyere Oginyi paid her a courtesy visit in her office.
She urged the association to help in molding the mindset of the girl child, adding that wrong mindset was the major reason women think very poor especially on the issue of women emancipation whenever it comes up
She commended the association for Identifying with women in positions of authority which according to her was a turnaround from what was being experienced before.
Her words, “It is a rear gesture for women to support their fellow women, the women folk are overcoming that setback, the joy with which we rejoice with our own now is unimaginable and it is an encouragement to all of us.
“Thank you for seeing it wise to visit me as your fellow woman, I do not take it for granted.
“I am much glad to hear that you also embark on charity work, that has shown the mother substance in you. Mothers are always driving passionate, we care more than men. I’m glad that you have not allowed your job to take you away from that caring attitude, it is worthy of emulation by other women’s associations.
“Women empowerment is very important, our women need to wake up and see that they can do anything. That you are a woman is not an impediment, nothing is stopping you from being what you want to be.
“When people talk about women’s emancipation, I have presented a lot of papers in which I try to deviate from the regular idea of women’s emancipation and most times when I present such papers in conferences especially when I come up with a different idea I am not moved, you don’t come to tell me women’s liberation who chained you?
” We were never in the chain it’s just a thing of the mind when you begin to look at and you say Oh I’m a woman I can not do this, I’m to enjoy my husband’s wealth it’s all wrong when you look at the society you will see that women compete with the men favorably.
“I don’t mean the stupid competition we do with our men. God has fashioned the men to be the head and we are the neck too, the head can do nothing without the neck when you cut the neck the head will roll, so you see our position we are even stronger. What we can do the men can not do it, taking care of a newborn baby alone the men can not do it, and many others.
“I want to appeal that as Journalists that you are, if you can take the campaign to teenage girls the mindset plays a big role in your behavior and growth, when you grow with the wrong mindset it will be difficult for you to change when you are old. An adult has already her character formed, if you try to change that adult you will have problems with the person.
If you take this campaign of women living up to the expectation to teenage girls you will see that you will form their minds”.
