Partner Govt For Dev, RVHA Urges NAWOJ

A members of Assembly,
representing Emohua Constituency, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Samuel Ogeh, has charged women journalists to think out of the box and harness available laws for the benefits of women and children, while partnering with the legislature and the executive arms of government to guarantee good governance and entrench sustainable development for Rivers people.
Ogeh, who is also chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), 2016 Press Week, made the charge when members of NAWOJ paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Port Harcourt to officially invite him to the week-long activity.
Led on the visit by the state NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs Lilian Okonkwo, the lawmaker said while accepting the honour that, “The good news for women is that some of these laws have become a global issue. Even here in Rivers State, we have made significant progress in addressing the concerns of women on a number of issues, from inheritance to property rights.”
Ogeh, therefore, challenged women allegedly denied their rights to inheritance, whether of husband or father’s property, to explore available windows in the courts of law, to obtain justice, adding that “nobody gives you what you didn’t demand for, and convince them that, indeed, you need them.”
The lawmaker further tasked women journalists to galvanise, encourage, sensitise fellow women folks on their rights, adding that what was hampering women’s ability to possess their possessions was ignorance of the law, and the availability of legal windows to redress any perceived injustice.
He listed many women in Nigeria and elsewhere, who have excelled in asserting their rights without any hindrances, particularly mentioning authors and writers, Flora Nwapa and Chinamanda Adichie, as well as a litany of women leaders in politics, business, and judiciary, who have distinguished themselves in their callings, adding that nobody has questioned their rise to stardom.
Ogeh, therefore, promised to participate actively in activities lined-up for the NAWOJ Annual Press Week, just as he pledged to partner NAWOJ in advancing the cause of women in the society.
Earlier, the state NAWOJ Chairperson, Mrs Lilian Okonkwo, had informed the lawmaker that the week-long activity will begin on October 26th with the opening ceremony, noting that events include skill acquisition training on Thursday, novelty football match between NAWOJ and FIDA on Friday and a thanksgiving service on Sunday.
The NAWOJ chairperson expressed appreciation to the lawmakers for the good work they were doing since inception of democracy.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana