A coalition of women groups, under the aegis of Womanifesto, have urged the passage of all gender-related bills before the House of Representatives, stating that if passed by March 31, 2022, it will be a glorious way to keep women’s mouths shut.

They also condemned a statement by the spokesman of the House, Benjamin Kalu, on lobbying, saying that a series of lobbying efforts by the women groups are on record.

A petition signed by the Co-convener, Womanifesto, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi and Chairperson, Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifedu, stated: “Today, women, comprising mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, are indeed alarmed over the refusal of the National Assembly to vote in support of gender-related bills within the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

“We state unequivocally that the denial of the five gender-related bills amounts to a declaration of war on Nigerian women by the National Assembly.”

HOWEVER, President, Centre for Health Services Training, Research and Development (CHESTRAD), Dr. Olufunmilola Lola-Dare, has urged government at all levels and private institutions to include women and young people in the COVID-19 bounce back programmes to cushion the effect of the pandemic.

Lola-Dare, in a statement yesterday to celebrate International Women’s Day, said the COVID-19 pandemic had led to job losses, business collapse and others.

She said this would restore a progressive trajectory towards social transformation, human capital development and sustained economic impact.

SIMILARLY, Lead Visioner, Lagos4Lagos Movement and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State, Dr. Abdul-Azeez Adediran (Jandor), has saluted women on the celebration of the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD).

Jandor, who described the day as a significant milestone that highlights the triumphs, struggles and challenges of women, praised women for their contributions in building families, societies, nations and the world at large.

He advised that women, especially in Lagos, should choose a leader that would help break the bias against competence, merit and professionalism in their chosen fields of endeavours come 2023.

IN another development, a socially-conscious fashion brand, HUMANx, yesterday organised outreach to Takushara community in Abuja to enlighten women on menstrual hygiene management while also donating sanitary kits.

According to Gbemi Elekula, Founder and Creative Director of HUMANx, the programme was in keeping with the vision and mission of the brand to bring an end to period poverty in Nigeria.

She said it was also in line with this year’s IWD campaign theme #BreaktheBias, which condemned the individual and collective biases against women.