Hunger, graduate unemployment and disrespect for womanhood assumed front burner at a four-day annual women conference of the Diocese on the Niger in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The women who raised their voices high during the conference against the socio-economic phenomena expressed fears that the situation might be understood as a designed subtle weapon against the masses, especially women.
The women leader, Dr Elsie Nwokolo, in her 84-page presidential address articulated the women’s grievances at St Mark’s Anglican Church, Omagba, venue of the conference. The women described hunger in Nigeria as the most catastrophic phenomenon threatening the entire population of the country.
She said if nothing was done urgently to arrest the situation, that many Nigerians would die of hunger.
The conference, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to adopt, without further delay, feasible strategies to checkmate what they called the unprecedented harrowing situation.
The conference equally observed with dismay an increasing rate of criminality which they said existed among youths in the country.
“We also observe the geometric pattern with which youth unemployment is equally rising, the effect of which now is the mult-dimensional criminality all over the country.
“Some of our academically intelligent but impatient children have taken to crimes due to unemployment.
Invariably there is now a very high rate of insecurity. People are no longer free to move about as stories of killings, kidnappings, cyber-crimes, money rituals and human trafficking remain the order of the day, ” the conference said.
The conference, therefore, called on the Federal, State and Local Governments to find lasting solutions to the problem by reviving some of the country’s moribund companies, establish new ones as well as giving startup capitals to willing youths.
The women also protested what they observed with regret a level of disrespect to womanhood in society. The conference noted that it had been observed for a long time what it called an unacceptable way women and the womanhood were being desecrated and treated as public objects of caricature.
“Many advertisers, film and music writers as well as authors today, openly portray women and the womanhood as sex objects.
“This is clear in the various obscene manner they annoyingly use women or their pictures in their different works as sexy dancers, call girls and models.
“As we vehemently reject this practice, we seriously appeal to governments and relevant agencies to henceforth stop any person, group or corporate body from using or portraying women or their photographs as cheap sex objects.
“Women and the womanhood ought to receive sacred treatment as creatures with beauty, dignity, honour and of great respect, “the conference noted.
The conference with the theme, “Christian Stewardship “explained the need for being faithful to God and humanity, adding that Christian stewardship demanded selfless sacrifice of one’s time, talents, resources among others.
While calling for practical application of the theme, the conference enjoined Christians to aspire to get a high fidelity level, explaining that every form of fidelity would be rewarded.
The event was attended by a cross section of dignitaries from within and outside the state, including government officials, business executives, politicians, Bishops and women representatives from more than 50 Anglican Dioceses.
