DELSU At The Forefront In Promoting Gender Issues –DELSU VC

By Ben Nwanne

Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) is in the forefront of promoting gender issues in all their ramifications, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga declared yesterday at the opening of a two-day maiden conference for Directors of Gender Centres in Nigeria Universities with the theme ‘’Gender Centres in Nigeria Universities: An Impetus for National Development’’.

The Professor of Parasitology and Public Health explained that the University had developed a robust gender policy that put gender issues in proper perspective and made available to every staff and student.

He remarked that .‘’our students’ gender ratio is balanced in the same way that our staff ratio also reflects inclusivity. The most visible testimony of our gender inclusivity reflects in the composition of the University Management where four out of the seven principal officers are female. The number of female Deans and Directors is also on the ascendancy. Put together, DELSU has exceeded the 35% Affirmative Action for women in public governance’’.

He observed that gender had assumed a multi-disciplinary character such that in theory and practice, gender issues had bestridden both private and public spaces in today’s world, adding that in the past 70 years, the essence of gender had evolved full blown ‘’as mutating from concerns with the female to an inclusive site where male and female relieve the conflictual essence of being and resolve same in a symbiotic manner that privileges collaboration, which in turn, promotes harmony, personal and collective development and by extension, social cohesion and national development’’.

The Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the role of gender mainstreaming, insisting that until we are able to do so, we are still wasting time’’.

In a welcome address, the Ag. Director for Gender and Development Studies at DELSU, Dr. (Mrs) Ufuoma Awhefeada explained that the gathering was for torchbearers ‘’in the articulation of gender imperatives towards creating an inclusive and collaborative society for social cohesion and national development’’

The Associate Professor of Law reminded the participants that the conference was the first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that it was a testimony to DELSU’s commitment to ‘’gender in theory and practice’’.

In a rather comprehensive gratitude list, she mentioned the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Abuja, led by Dr. Otive Igbuzor and Mr Monday Osasah for part sponsoring the conference; the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga whom she decided as ‘’the dynamic thought clairvoyant administrator and public intellectual for the sustained support for the Centre; the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Hon (Mrs) Pat Ajudua, for being a partner in the advancement of the course of women, HRM Majesty, Obi Martha Dunkwu 1, Omu Anioma for her dignified presence in the last conference and the present one.

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She further extended her gratitude to the Guest Speaker, Professor Olabisi Aina, a Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University. Ile-Ife and all the visiting Directors of Gender Studies from across the country, the University management, Deans, Directors, staff and students for attending the conference.

In her goodwill message, the Hon Commissioner, Barrister Pat Ajudua, who also holds a doctorate degree, expressed her passion about gender issues adding that the issue of gender based crimes were becoming too rampant and added that something needed to be done about it. ‘

’We are working very hard to stop the situation at the government level and as practising lawyers, adding, ‘’that is why we are here to partner with you’’.

She commended the Centre for Gender and Development Studies, DELSU, the organizers of the event, for the ‘’fantastic’’ job they had done.

The consummate politician who was in the Delta State House of Assembly for 16 years, informed the audience that with the Ministry in collaboration with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has prosecuted and secured 24 convictions in its fight against persons involved in gender based violence.

She also informed that the National Dash Board on gender based violence showed the activities of FIDA, urging persons with complaints to come forward as ‘’there is help everywhere now’’.

Although absolutely excited about what was going on at the University, she believed that gender mainstreaming consciousness and training should begin earlier at the secondary school level while traditional and religious leaders should be engaged in the advocacy to take maximum advantage of the issue so as to elicit the national attention it deserved.

In her own goodwill message, Her Royal Majesty, Obi Martha Dunkwu paid glowing tributes to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Egwunyenga for the massive developments recorded in the past few years.

Describing all women as ‘’beautiful and intelligent’’, she mooted the idea of intergenerational mentorship of women, throwing a challenge to the Honourable Commissioner that she (Obi Dunkwu) would be a member of the Committee that would carry out the assignment if the idea was implemented.

The revered traditional ruler, in her royal regalia, explained that the problem in the country was because women had failed as a result of the poor upbringing they were giving to the children.

She stated that the future of humanity was in the hands of women. ‘

’When families collapse, society collapses, she pinpointed.

While describing herself as an ‘’incurable optimist, ‘’she is of the view that the country would rise again to get to the promise land.

She added that youths are supposed to be leaders of today, not of tomorrow, but noted that ‘’nobody gets power on a platter of gold’’.

Presenting his goodwill message, the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) Abuja, Mr. Monday Osasah described Centre LSD as a non-profit, non-governmental organization, established in 2010 to build strategic leadership for sustainable development in Africa.

Mr Osasah explained that the theme of the conference was apt to bring a greater understanding of the subject to promote gender equality and combat discrimination against women and other marginalized groups in Nigerian Universities.

He explained that ‘’the collaboration with DELSU was informed by the linkage between the work of our development on the intersectionality of gender and natural resource governance with the support of the Ford Foundation, and what the Centre for Gender and Development Studies in DELSU is established to do’’.

As if their gracious support was not enough, the Centre donated several titles of books to the University through the Vice-Chancellor.

In a well researched and insightful paper, entitled ‘’Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges: The Dynamic Role of Gender Research Centres in Enhancing Nigeria’s Development Trajectory’’, the Guest Speaker, Professor Olaibisi Aina of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife held the audience spell bound with the high quality of her presentation.

From the outset, she singled out the Vice-Chancellor for special commendation for doing a good work for the University, noting that if every Vice-Chancellor had the same attitude, ‘’we should be clapping for them’’.

The long standing Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies who has been in the trenches for decades, explained that working with gender issues ‘’is not a straight road, but a dynamic one’’.

She pointed out that it was not a woman issue but a humanity matter which affected everyone-man, woman, boys and girls.

According to the Professor of high achievement, the gathering in Abraka was the best she had seen noting that ‘’the work is plenty but the labourers are few’’.

She insisted that men and women were basically the same, apart from their biological differences; hence, there should no gender discrimination whatsoever.

She explicated the nexus between gender and development, urging that there was need for a better understanding of gender issues, for instance, a girl who gets pregnant should ‘’not be killed’’, rather, there should be accommodation.

‘’Why can’t we have hostels for pregnant girls and nursing mothers’’, she asked rhetorically, while recommending more partnerships and collaborations i.e establishing a network for gender studies.

She stated categorically that a growing body of evidence suggested that ‘’gender equality is a smart strategy’’.

The conference attracted many Directors of Centres of Gender Studies in Nigerian Universities.

A drama sketch illustrating sexual harassment in our institutions of higher learning entertained the audience.