admin@nnngoWoman, Make it happen
As part of its objectives as an organization to empower women in the society, the Women Of Essence Foundation hosted the third edition of the International Women’s day Conference with the theme Woman! Make It Happen. This was held on March 12th, 2015 at Events center, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The conference featured women leaders from different sectors discussing issues affecting the African woman as it relates to the challenges and issues in the nation and the world. In attendance were awards winning civil rights activist and president, Women Arise For Change Initiative- Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, Mrs. Funke Bucknor Obruthe- CEO Zapphire Events and Pastor (Mrs.) Ruth Essien- President, Women After Revival Ministry.
Speaking passionately at the conference was Joe Odumakin, award winning civil rights activist who noted that women are super humans and serve as continuity and important human factor in the world. She added that research has it that 75% agricultural work is done by women automatically attesting to the fact that women contribute enormous economic factor to the nation and the world at large.
According to the WOMEF founder and coordinator, Mrs. Omokorede Fasoro, the International Women’s Day is a day set aside worldwide to celebrate women and their various contributions to the world .It is also used as time to draw attention of the world to issues affecting women. Some of these issues are gender based violence, all forms of abuse, discrimination and oppression. She reiterated that whenever violence breaks out in a country, women and children are usually the greatest casualties of such events. She noted that in Nigeria for instance, in the earlier part of 2014, over 250 young girls were kidnapped by a group of insurgents and are yet to be released.
The crux of the matter she added is for women not to just sit and watch woes befall them, but to rise up, take responsibility and do something NOW, making a change and making it happen. She cited examples of women who have made impact such as Mother Theresa, Mary Slessor, Harriet Turbman, Dora Akinyuli, Oprah Winfrey, Omobola Johnson, Malala Yousafzai etc noting that these women gave their all despite the odds. She rounded up by urging women not to give up, but to continue to make an impact in their areas of influence.
The other speakers- Mrs. Funke Bucknor of Zapphaire Events shared with the audience the principles of running a successful business, while Ruth Essien challenged women on how to make it happen in the home front.
It was a great time for every participant, who left the conference energized, challenged and encouraged to MAKE IT HAPPEN!