INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Last year the theme was planet 50-50 by 2030, the sustainable development goals, the UN’s road made a sustainable future by 203, requires transformative shifts integrated approaches and new solutions “while this year theme for International Women Day, “think equal, build smart and innovate for change”. This highlights innovation and technology as one of the key drives for achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Thus women all over the world have been innovative in their thoughts and dealings of which most are yet to be heard because we are yet to attain planet 50-50 of gender equality. Although women are early adapters to innovate for change. UN has urged the world community to focus on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women particularly in the areas of social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure. It is of no doubt that to empower women is to empower a society toward equity and to empower women is to empower the nation toward Sustainable Development Goals. The role women plays in  societies are immeasurable when empowered fully.

          “Think equal” is another way to achieve gender equality. It’s a medium where women see each other as equal and are ready to help each other to grow. There is no room for the one feeling superior or inferior. Think equal comes with the concept of every woman and every girl acting as change agent to achieve gender equality while not being “bias”. Our thought have to align for us to fellow in the same direction and with the same agenda.

          “Build smart” has to do with our consciousness to our environment and actions. It comes with the concept of creating equality across all sectors. As the working age population in the world is Men: (76.1%), women: (49.6%), this calls for women to act as a bridge builder in every position they found themselves. To “build smart”, we have to be ready to cooperate and take necessary actions toward strengthening the weakness of other women. We know women world wide are not on equal scale and leaves a huge gender gap but not withstanding women should be ready to stand for each other to “build smart”. According to UN women, primary school age children out of school worldwide is 15million (girls) and 10 million (boys), this called for need for effective channels to addressing girl education, in each society. This is because challenges are unlimited and as such need someone to address the situation at all times.

          “Innovate for change”, have watched women all over the world, and have come to the conclusion that women are early adapter to innovate for change and to take actions for a livable planet. But trend indicate a growing gender digit divide and under presented in the field of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design. “Proportion of women in parliamentarians worldwide in 2000 (13%), of 2018 (23%)” this signify a growing trend but not as rapid as expected. Also women made up <30% of researchers, <20% of stem leadership positions; 3% of Nobel laureates in science at UNESCO and according to UN women, we have 108 years to fill the gender inequality but I see this as challenge that we can overcome before 108 years and this start with me and you.

          However, we have women all over the world that are inspiring us and are making our voices to be heard both in grassroots and public, as such deserve all supports. Furthermore, we need a world where we can “break ceiling” across all sectors. United we stand, divided we fall. 

BY: OLADOSU ADENIKE