DELSU VC Decries Gender Inequality

By Ben Nwanne

The Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga has decried gender inequality in Nigeria which undervalues the immense contributions of women to national development efforts, especially in the academia.

Professor Egwunyenga, who spoke on Wednesday, 6th October 2021 at the maiden summit of ‘Women in Leadership and Development’, organized by the University’s Centre for Gender and Development Studies in collaboration with 100 Women Lobby Group, stated that gender equality would promote sustainable development.

According to him, ‘’it is generally known that women are undervalued and continue to work more and earn less and are under-represented in leadership positions. This situation ought to be reversed. Education is the strongest weapon to fight gender inequality and underdevelopment. Women should not be under represented in higher education, particularly the university system, because of its several implications’’.

The Professor of Parasitology who is giving DELSU an enlightened and committed leadership, added that under-representation of women meant that they would not realize their full potential, saying this has an attendant negative impact on personal development as well as economic and social development of the country.

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He also insisted that since universities are places where the most highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce is trained, gender gaps in specific courses could potentially affect the pool of professionals and leaders in the job market, noting also that low level of education for women implied low representation in the job market, leading to increased economic inequality.

In a brief empirical study of gender distribution of DELSU students, the chief executive showed that female students were more than their male counterpart, except in medicine, law and engineering.

The Scientist of note observed that the gender gap in Medicine and Engineering is particularly worrisome, because evidence from development indicators showed that the practice of those courses ultimately benefited women the most.

Prof. Egwunyenga assured the largely female audience that DELSU had resolved to develop policies to bridge the unhealthy gender gap by appointing more women into key administrative and management positions with the emergence of Mrs R. U. Ufiofio as the first female registrar of the university, among others.

Speaking during the occasion, the wife of the Governor of Delta State and initiator of the 05 Initiative to assist the weak and vulnerable, Dame Evangelist Edith Okowa commended the organizers of perhaps the most important summit on women in Delta State and even beyond, for bringing women together to chart a path for their progress.

She regretted that women had been considered over the years as minor creatures who did not have the right to a good life.

Although she admitted there was an improvement in this narrative, ‘but have we really fared well in leadership’’? she asked the largely female audience.

Apparently encouraged by their response, she delivered what can be described as a great advertisement for the women folk, noting that they “are leaders in their own right, good managers of their homes, multipliers of wealth, role models, go getters and a beauty to behold!”

She noted that Delta State Government under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, had expanded the space for women participation in politics and government with six female commissioners, 17 women as council Vice chairmen, 96 women as Councillors and other impressive data.

She held the audience spell bound by playing the women’s card, stressing their unique selling points.

An evangelist, the First Lady of Delta State encouraged women to come together and harness their large numbers for political purpose.

“If we decide to support a female candidate”, she told the cheering crowd of women, “we will produce a female president. We are not a mistake. Educating a girl child is smart economics’’.

In her welcome address, the Director, Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Professor (Mrs) Ebele J. Egwunyenga, stated that the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls as articulated in the Sustainable Development goals (SDG) could only be possible through ‘’inclusive implementation of programme aimed at removing every barrier to women empowerment in the world’’.

According to Prof. (Mrs) Egwunyenga, who is the wife of DELSU’s Vice-Chancellor, “one strategy we have employed, besides conducting research on a variety of gender issues is partnership and collaboration with individuals, organizations and institutions with similar objectives in the attainment of our goal of promoting, planning, evaluating and implementing sustaining gender development agenda.”

The maiden summit, a booster in the fight for gender equality, was attended by the crème de la crème of women from all walks of life in Delta state and even beyond, including Her Excellency, Dame Evangelist Edith Okowa, eminent Guest and mother of the day, Her Excellency, Dame Pauline Tallen, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Distinguished Guests of Honour, His Lordship, Honourable Justice T. O. Dial, Chief Judge Delta State, Chairman of Summit, His Lordship, Honourable Justice Pat Elumeze, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Prof. (Mrs) R. N. Okoh, Deputy Vice-chancellor (Administration) Delsu, Her Royal Majesty Obi Martha Dunkwu (Omu Anioma/Nne Oha), Dr. Mrs. Joyce Ogwezi, Chief facilitator at the summit, among others.