Mrs Liang Huili, Wife of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, has emphasized the need for redoubled efforts to promote gender equality and advance the global cause of women’s development.
Liang made this known on Wednesday at an event organised by the Chinese Cultural Center, Abuja in collaboration with the Female Artist Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) to mark the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is with the theme “ The Women in Culture” showcased over 50 paintings by Female Artists to depict Nigeria’s vibrant culture.
According to Liang, it is Important to redouble the cause of promoting gender equality and women’s development, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic which took a heavy toll on economy, with greater challenges to women
Sharing the development of women’s cause in China, Liang said that putting in place over 100 laws and regulations for the full protection of women’s right, women now account for over 40 per cent of the country’s workforce.
“Women are creators of human civilization and drivers of social progress. And they have made extraordinary achievements across all fields of endeavor.
“In recent years, the development of the China-Nigeria relations enjoys sound momentum, with political mutual trust being enhances, cooperation in various fields yielding fruitful results, and coordination on international and regional affairs being closer.
“All these achievements could not be made without the full participation of women from both sides.
“China has always attached great importance to women’s cause and gender equality. First, equality between men and women is a basic state policy in China.
“We have put in place legal systems comprising over 100 laws and regulations to fully protect women’ rights and interests. Second, women political status has grown significantly.
“Third, women are playing important role in economic and social development. Women account for over 40 per cent of the country’s workforce and more than half of China’s internet start-up businesses are set up by women,” Laing said
Dr Ngozi Akande, Secretary, Board of Trustees, FEAAN, said that the association was formed to give women the opportunity to air their views, use their arts to advocate against forms of gender-based violence.
“The female artists association of Nigeria was formed in 2001 to give the women the voice to air their views using their arts.
“We are using our arts to ask for female rights against against gender-based violence, rape, we also use our art to celebrate women in in every aspect of life.
“So the theme of this 2023 International Women’s Day, DigiatAll: Innovation and technology for gender equality is apt. this is a call to educate more women and girls in digital technology.
“Today’s life depends on strong terminological integration. For instance, attending courses on line, doing bank transactions, making phone calls, booking medical appointment, all these go through a digital process.
“However, if women and girls do not have access to internet and do not feel safe online, they will find it difficult to engage in the digital space.
“Bringing women into technology will result in more creative solutions and they will have greater potential for innovations that will meet women needs and promote gender equality.
“This exhibition titled women in cultural showcases over 50 paintings by 20 women and a male guest artist depicting different cultural themes in vibrant colours, and good finishing,” Akande said.
Mrs Lydia Jafiya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Culture, said that the the 2023 International Women’s Day should be a time to reflect on the challenges faced by women with a road map for improvements.
Jafiya who was represented by Mrs, Zainab Ali-Biu, a Director in the Ministry, said that women indeed deserve to be celebrated for their great exploits and contributions to humanity.
“As we celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day, it is important to reflect once again on the road ahead, harness collective energy to address challenges faced by women and helping them break barriers.
“As a global community, we can achieve this through a clear roadmap, by setting up more structures, and strengthening existing institutional frameworks with a view to expanding the scope of women,” Jafiya said.
NAN reports that the Chinese Embassy awarded three students from schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja for coming first, second and third in the Embassy’s IWD Essay writing competition.
Winner of the first position was awarded Seventy thousand naira, the second position, sixty thousand naira while the third position, fifty thousand naira. (NAN)
