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Masss Media And Women Empowerment

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Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Atosemi Teetito (2nd left),addressing NAWOJ membes during a peace walk to commemorate International Women’s Day in Port Harcourt.Photo: Ibioye Diama

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs Atosemi Teetito (2nd left),addressing NAWOJ membes during a peace walk to commemorate International Women’s Day in Port Harcourt. Photo: Ibioye Diama

A paper presented at a
one day public lecture to mark international women’s day for centre and gender studies (CCGS) University of Port Harcourt in collaboration with Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) Rivers State on 31st” March 2016 by Okonkwo – Ogabu Lilian, chairman Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NA WOJ) Rivers State.
Introduction:-In September, 20 15, all member states of the United Nations Organisation unanimously approved new development goals – 17 in
number, which aims to end poverty, promote shared economic prosperity, social development and environmental protection for all in 2030. The goals are a build up on the millennium development goals of 2000 and it is hoped that it will succeed where the previous one failed. Fellow Nigerian women and our male supporters, we have been given another chance to better the lot of women in Nigeria. It is a call for us to work assiduously within the next fourteen years especially with respect to SDG 5 (gender equality) because on it lies our success so that by 2030, we will be counting our blessings.
Role Of Mass Media In Empowerment Of Women
The objective of this presentation is to enhance the empowerment of women through mass media. A quote from former UN secretary general Kofi Annan says “there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women”.
Hence it is undoubtedly true that empowerment of women can be made possible by education through the mass media. Mass media has played a vital role in empowerment of women. It has reached out to larger audiences through print, radio, television, cinema and internet. Life today is conditioned by the mass media. It has molded public opinion of the masses. Although it has not totally changed the traditionally oriented attitudes of the millions of Nigerians towards the women therefore aluta continua and by the grace or God victory acceta.
Classification Of Empowerment
I.Psychological empowerment: the focus is on growth and development of women. Self actualisation refers to an individual’s need to develop his/her potentialities, in other words, to do what he or she is capable of doing. This empowerment has its goal in the self actualization in which the innate potentials and talents are given ample opportunities to grow.
2. Sociological Empowerment
The communication within the group and between the groups empowers women. Print and electronic media help women to communicate their needs. Achieving mature thought requires achieving mature use of language. In this area, the media plays a crucial role in the empowerment of women by creating awareness among the people to shed the feudalistic mindset that denigrated women. With constant media awareness, true liberation will be a reality.
3. Economic Empowerment
More women than men live in poverty. there is even a popular saying that poverty wears the face of a women. Economic disparities persist partly because much of the unpaid work within families and communities falls in the shoulders of women and because they face discrimination in the
economic sphere. Economic empowerment of women is possible only when financial independence is achieved, when they acquire life skills to
earn their livelihood through entrepreneurship which is the future of the modern society. Empowerment of women entrepreneur is a new matter for development of economy. Presently the Nigeria government is talking about diversi fication from oil to other sector, like Agriculture. Women should be empowered in this area. The rural farmer should be empowered financially and technologically and by so doing will be empowered economically.
4. Philosophical Empowerment.
Philosophical empowerment is about the need of women to have a world outlook, a system of personal values and faith. personal values give a women strength and fortitude in time of crisis.
a.Individual: A woman as an individual has a philosophy of life, a set of standard ideals which are based on the principles that she has chosen as being acceptable to her. Philosophy influences the individuals life, it is a particular way of looking at things.
b.Fellowship:- A networking of women with the same or similar world outlook is called fellowship. In this group individual identity is out shadowed by group identity. In women empowerment, fellowship plays an important role.
c. The Mass:- This is a larger group where a woman identifies herself to be. Individuality is totally lost in the mass. It can be a religious, linguistic or regional group. The media appeal to this segment or the society. A women may identify herself to belong to a system of belief or ideology.
5.Human Rights Education Empowerment:- To be made aware of the rights and responsibilities. It is an empowerment through human rights education. About two thirds of the illiterate adults in the world are female. Law relating to the protection of women from domestic violence is an important milestone. Domestic violence is a human rights issue and serious deterrent to development.
6.Political Empowerment:- Social and legal institutions still do not guarantee women equality in basic legal and human rights, in access or control of land or other resources, in employment and earning as well as social and political participation. Law against domestic violence is often not enforced on behalf of women. Little wonder the gender equality bill was thrown out.
7.Reproductive Health:- Women for both physiological and social reasons are more vulnerable than men to reproductive health problems, including maternal mortality and morbidity. These represent a major but preventable cause of death and disability for women in developing countries. Failure to provide information, services and conditions to help women protect their reproduction health therefore constitutes gender based discrimination and a violation of women’s rights to health and life. Health is wealth, there is need for women to be empowered health wise in other for them to achieve full potentials.
8.Women And Mass Media: In the past, women were not in the field of journalism whereas now they are taking active role in all.
No wonder, empowerment experience has shown that addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment requires strategic interventions at all levels of mass media programming and policy making. Even though discrimination and exploitation of women are global phenomena, their consequences are more tragic in some parts of the globe particularly in the under developed countries where ignorance, deprivation of the basis necessities of life are high.
9.Conclusion: The potential of mass media for the empowerment and emancipation of women from obscurantist cannot be over emphasised. For us as female journalist whose social responsibility it is to bring these negative issues to bear and to speak out against it, we shall not rest until we achieve the desired positive change.

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The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage

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A woman needs a man that is honest,  trustworthy,  nice,  loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money,  it is always difficult.


Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire  shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect  the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy,  at least helping to do one or two things.   A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has.  Traits of taking care of people,  giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family,  remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.


According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit.  Don’t be a monitoring spirit.  Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.


The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man.  A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

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What Women Want In Yet-To -Be Husbands

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What women want in their yet-to- be husbands matters a lot as far as marriage is concerned.
A woman desires a good fnancial prospect. Interestingly, some modern women place a man’s financial potential as more desirable than they have in the past.
Many decades ago, women ranked it lower on the list. It still comes in after items like love and maturity, but perhaps today’s women realise that a good economic partner is good husband material.
Good health has been an important characteristic for women through the 20th century and remains so these days. One might argue that because we’re living even longer, health plays a huge role in the success of a marriage. Women are anxious to know that their partners are healthy to be able to run the family together.
You discover that in most faith based organisations, would- be couples are mandated to go for medical tests to ascertain their health status as it concerns HIV/AIDS, Genotype and other related ones. This according to stakeholders is to ensure that couples raise healthy families.
Ambition has become less important to women over time, though it still being considered even if women nowadays are thriving in the workforce competing with the male folk. It may be because more women are thriving in the workforce, they want a husband who has earning power but are not looking for him to be the sole provider.
More women want husbands with pleasing disposition. They may not want a man who is always moody. A man who is always cheerful is whom they desire.
Surprisingly, a man’s likes do not rank as high on women’s list of wants as it used to. Until recently, women are more willing to accept a man for who he his, despite the inevitable mood he may be.
Sociability from both men and women rank very high on their marriag material list. And for both sexes, it has been steadily moving up the list for many years. The rise of the “love marriage,” a partnership based on attraction rather than practicalities (like wealth or status) might mean that married couples are more likely to be friends and have mutual circles of friends.
A lot of couples want to associate with others and then socialise. Attending parties of other friends forms part of their marriage requirements.
Women have placed education and intelligence top making it one of their most desirable male traits for decades. This timeline coincides with more and more women receiving college education themselves. Once education becomes important in women’s lives, it is a more attractive trait in potential husbands.
Of course when a woman is educated, she is likely to go for an educated man. When they are gainfully employed, their income boost the family affairs faster.
Today, women are much more attracted to men who are interested in home and family than they ever have been. Men who have desire for their home and children is whom they desire.
After a days job, a man will come home to ensure that his children are comfortable. Because most women today are expecting to be in dual-earner relationships, they want husbands who will be happy and willing to contribute at home. More women today even report that they hope he will take the lead at home.
A woman wants a man who is emotionally stable and mature. Growing big physically is not the issue but maturity in the heart.
Men, too, place a heavy emphasis on a potential wife’s emotional maturity, signaling that it is a key quality for a stable partnership. Women seem to look past appearance to the heart of the matter.
A woman wants a man who is not easily provoked. Dependable character is what some women want in marriage.
Women want husbands that they can count on, and this has not changed in recent years. Yes, women look to their spouses to be lovers and friends, they also want them to be supportive and trustworthy. They want to know that their husbands will be there and remain loyal. Men, too, desire dependable character from their yet-to be wives.
Mutual attraction and love from the first appearance is what they want till they become old.
The highest-rated characteristic women seek from men is mutual attraction and love. Some no longer look for a man who will provide everything, afterall they are also educated and are gainfully employed, they want to be in love.
For some women, even when the man do not provide household needs, the love shown on her is enough. When women had no job prospects and needed to marry, they desired love . The women’s movement has not only helped women pursue careers, it has also given them more choice in love.

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Echoes Of IWD : Need To Invest In Women

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As this year’s Internatinal Women’s Day (IWD) has come and gone, there are calls from different quarters on the need to invest in women so that we can achieve accelerated growth.
It was, indeed, a thing of joy when Rivers Women Unite For Sim, took delivery of large quantities of sanitary towels and some bags of rice provided them for this year’s celebration.
Many young women expressed joy that they got such gesture since some of them have financial problems getting sanitary towels whenever they are on.
Some secondary school students were also lucky to have a share of the benefits. They also got some sanitary towels.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs organised a platform to celebrate and honour the women for the remarkable jobs they perform in their homes and society.
Addressing women on the occasion, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, noted that women from time immemorial have been great pillars in achieving remarkable heights and stressed that IWD across the globe is pivotal all women for the roles they play in bringing, nurturing and sustaining life.
Dr. Uranta said that IWD, which started in 1911 and celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day that provides women a platform to address economic inclusion, participation in political and public life.
She said the day was set aside to look into lack of access to education for the girl-child, gender-based violence, child marriage, child trafficking, harmful cultural practices as well as other challenges facing women around the globe.
The Hon. Commissioner, who described March 8 as a day to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women, emphasised that it is a day that offers women the opportunity to reflect on progressive achievements.
Noting that it is an opportunity to call for change, she stressed that it is also an opportunity to celebrate acts of courage and every achievement made by ordinary women who did extraordinary things and are remembered in history.
She noted that the IWD2024 theme:”Invest In Women, Accelerate Progress”, is timely and apt because according to her, to achieve gender equality, we must ensure that the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women do not elude them.
Her words: ” We must see investing in women as a human right issue and consider investing in women as a social tool to eradicate poverty since women are helpmeet in the homes while a handful are breadwinners in their respective families”.
The commissioner urged women to uphold the deliberate act of investing in themselves, be it furthering formal education, developing a new skill as well as learning a trade.
“Shun idleness, always find something positive and productive to do, regardless of your age, social status and financial capabilities”, she said.
In a paper presentation, Dr. Dabota God’swill Jumbo, reiterated that investing in women would attract good and positive dividends to herself and the society at large and noted that it is essential in addressing poverty, hunger and climate change.
The guest speaker said women need more opportunities in elective and appointive positions, hence the need to encourage and support them in politics.
According to her, when you invest in women, they will be able to create safer environment devoid of gender-based violence.
In a goodwill message, the spokesperson, Rivers Women Unite For Sim, Mrs Charity Deemua appreciated the organisers for making it possible for women to gather and celebrate themselves.
She commended those who created a day like March 8 of every year to celebrate women and regretted that the girl-child was seen as a second-class person decades ago.
The former commissioner, Rivers State House of Assembly Commission, described those who taught it wise for women to celebrate as conquerors, tough and strong.
International Association of World Peace Advocates, a world-class organisation with the United Nations, honoured different categories of women.
In Cross River State, 150 women were empowered with about N15m to boost their small and medium scale businesses.
According to stakeholders, the women empowerment is vital in addressing social, economic and political challenges and will make them self-reliant.
An NGO, Association of Professional Women Engineering Technologists (APWET), said it’s aim is to promote professional excellence among engineering personnel, advocating for women and girl-child education.
With what we saw in terms of response to women’s call on issues affecting them from relevant authorities, we are optimistic that the women will do better whenever they are empowered.
If we must kick out cervical, breast and other forms of cancer in women, underage marriage, prostitution, we must invest in women.
There were goodwill messages from National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC, Nigeria Association of Female Journalists (NAWOJ), among others.

By: Eunice Choko-Kayode

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