TODAY IS: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Today's international women's day.
A day set aside by the international community to recognise and celebrate the role of women in our society. No doubt, women have played significant roles to the successes of men in different areas of endeavours.

Moreover, there are women who have been at the forefront of several developmental & progressive schemes in our society.

At the home, church, school, office or any fragment of the society, one cannot but notice the invaluable contributions of women.

There are those whose works and contributions to the society attracted attention at the global, national, states & local levels.

The world can never forget Margaret Thatcher, who was the
longest serving British Prime Minister and one of the most
influential personalities of the 20th century.

History will forever be kind to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now
Saint. Teresa, who devoted her life to the service of the poor and destitutes around the world. In perpetual memory of her, monuments have been erected, organizations, buildings, streets
and schools have been named after her.

A grateful nation would never forget Dora Akunyuli, who gained
international recognition for sanitizing the drugs arm of Nigeria's health sector while she was the Director General of NAFDAC.

Any book on Nigeria's anti- colonial struggles would be incomplete without a generous space devoted to Margaret Ekpo who led the famous "Aba Women Riot" of 1929. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was also one of Nigeria's female leading activist.

Who talks about women participation in politics without a deserved mention of Cecilia Ekpenyong who was the first female deputy governor in Nigeria? She served under former Governor Clement Ebri of Cross River State.

Chinyere Kalu, first woman in Nigeria to fly an aircraft has a place in history.

Grace Alele-Williams, first female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria lives on to enjoy the honour and grace.

Chimamanda Adichie, Buchi Emecheta and others have made significant contributions to the literary world through their rich literary works.

Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Stephanie Okereke, Stella Damascus and others; beyond being screen goddesses  have made their marks in the Nollywood industry.

Recently, I had the honour of doing a study on Eugenia Abu who made news, lived news, ate news, dreamt news and read news on NTA for decades before her eventful retirement. Her life story is not only inspirational but worthy of emulation by younger women.

Who says you cannot make news as a woman? There are young women who are breaking grounds, defining and redefining concepts and making positive contributions to the society we live in.

Farewell to those times when women cried & begged for recognition. Women are everywhere now.

In many homes now, women are the breadwinners. In some homes, they contribute almost same or a little less than their husbands to the family's purse.

Women are worth celebrating on this day and beyond.


Happy women's day!