City Crime
Oil Firm Assures On Women’s Rights, Gender Equality
Total E and P Limited (Total) has called for support for women’s rights for social justice and gender equality, particularly those women who have distinguished themselves in their social, economic, cultural and political endeavours. Deputy Managing Director of the Port Harcourt District, Total E & P Nigeria Limited, Mr. Guillaume, made the call on the occasion of the International Women’s Day celebration for host community women.
He noted that the this year’s theme, “Choose to Challenge” was apt as he raised his hand to the women’s, stating that it was coming at the right time.
Deputy Managing Director, Port Harcourt District Total E&P Nigeria Limited, also said Total would not relent in its establishment of social enhancement programmes designed for the exclusive benefits of women groups including widows in its host communities.
According to him, “our pledge to support them is embodied in our targeted social enhancement programmes which are designed for the exclusive benefit of women groups, including widows in the host communities.
Dulout, who was represented by the General Manager, Community Affairs and Development, Mr Obinna Ofieze said though the Covid-19 pandemic had changed the realities of Total, the company was learning how to interact and do things differently in the pursuit of peaceful and sustainable partnership with host communities even in the face of challenges.
He said, “though our reality has changed with the Covid-19 pandemic and we are learning how to interact and do things differently, we are not deterred and will continue to pursue our goals of peaceful and sustainable partnerships with our host communities. We will continue to insist on safe and environmentally sustainable means of operating, despite the constant challenges of acts of vandalism, forced stoppages of operations and sundry demands on the company and her service providers.”
He thanked the community women for their resilience and urged them to help the company and deliver on the company’s initiatives and maintain a peaceful ambiance in their communities
On her part, Rivers State Commissioner For Culture and Tourism, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyinde who was the special guest at the celebration said the state government would ensure that women get their rightful place in society.
Briggs-Oniyinde noted that as part of the present administration’s efforts to ensure that the women take their rightful place in society, all Deputy Chairmen of the 23 local government areas of the state are women.
She said women in all ramifications ought to be celebrated as they were the arrow heads of discipline and development in any society .
According to her, “ today is a great day used to celebrate women globally. Women have contributed both directly and indirectly to the growth of the society in terms of reproduction and training. A mum is a good disciplinary force, imagine a world without a woman, there will be lack of discipline and it will constitute nuisance in our society, therefore women need to be celebrated and appreciated.
“ It is also a period we celebrate women who died during labour, who died during domestic violence, during female circumcision”, she said.
Furthermore, she said the state government has also directed women to participate actively in politics and commended women for living up to their responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of the host communities, Mrs Enyia Sunday Okpeye commended Total for the gesture and promised to take home all that they have been taught.
Highpoints of the event were three papers delivered on the theme, Choose to Challenge” by Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, “Mentorship”, by Pastor Ngozi Odukwe-Ighosevbe and “Confrontational Challenges/Choices and Collaborative Efforts”, by Dr. Charles Akpoki
By: Tonye Nria-Dappa