Breaking the culture
An increased Political will in our tradition and Culture for an open support of an inclusive society in our communities where men and women jointly participate actively in decision making and community governance structure; a case study ofcommunities in Igalamela/Odolu and ofulocal government areas of kogi state, North central Nigeria
Igala kingdom is one of the tribes in Nigeria that hasrich cultural and traditional heritage. It is also known for their brevity and rich in production of agricultural products. They are the majority tribe in kogi state and also are in other states in the south east and north central of Nigeria. They are also hospitable and ready to embrace change for the positive development of the people.
In 2015, the chairman of the Igalamela/Odolu local government area Traditional rulers council, His Royal Highness Chief Abel Etuh, the Etemahi of Igalamela invited Development Education Centre DEC Enugu to partner with the communities in his local government area on women’s right education and empowerment programme. This programme was to be carried out in partnership with the community stake holders. The program is aimed at improving the status of women in area of inclusive governance and gender based violence, access to quality health care for the people and economic empowerment of the women and girls through the acquisition of skill to make them productive
The success recorded in this programme especially in Ajaka and Ogbogbo was more on women inclusion in various decision making bodies and in community governance structures which never existed. The impact was seen in the governance and concrete contributions made by the women in the councils and othergovernance committee and development associations. This also extended to Oforachi.
Today the people of Ugwolawo and Ochadamu from Ofu Local government area are now part of this positive change of having women in their community governance councils as was facilitated by the Eje of Ofu HRH Chief Alhaji Akwu Obaje. His invitation of DEC to work in Ofu local government climaxed in the signing of the partnership agreement (MOU), where the community people themselves unanimously agreed to break the culture of silence and improve the rights of women participation in governance, change the ill practice of inheritance rights to widows and gender based violence in our society.
The government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency enact laws and domesticate it to ensure that women and children especially from the poor families will have opportunity to survive like other sex in the society.
Development Education Centre (DEC) Enugu has been doing her best to improve and better the condition of women and girls in South East states, there is the need to to re-write this belief by the political class and some educated ones in our society who continue to cling to cultural practices that encourage maltreatment of women.
Thanks to Development Education Centre for her resilience in the fight against injustice and obnoxious cultural practices in Nigeria
Ogazi C C