Prelate of the Catholic Church, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has urged Nigeriars to safeguard their communites by promoting integrity and security.
Onaiyekan made the call at a four -day National Workshop organised by Cardinal Onaiyekan’s Foundation for Peace ( COFP) in collaboration with Lux Terra Leadership Foundation on Tuesday in Abuja.
The workshop has as theme”The role of Women and Women Organizations in Promoting integrity and Security in Nigeria”
Onaiyekan said the theme of the workshop reflected on integrity and security which are burning national issues and basic conditions for peace and prosperity in any nation.
According to him, women and their organisations have more roles adding “Our nation is very much in need of their specific feminine contributions to our present dysfunctional society”
He spoke against the attitude of eulogizing people of dubious wealth and called for the promotion of integrity and security in communites.
The prelate said the system offers little opportunity for women to perform,in an often violent and rough contest saying the role of Women had been maginal and minimal in the poltical landscape
He noted that agitation to change the rules and create more space for women had made very little progress and said “the struggle must continue beyond the first lady syndrome.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs,Mrs Pauline Tallen said Women and Children were most vulnerable to insecurity.
She said the education of the girl child was important to enable them access to political position and appealed to” parents to educate their girl- child to enable them fight for their right as such would help eliminate marginalisation among women.”
Earlier ,the Executive Director of the Foundation,Rev. Dr. Agatha Chikelue said the workshop was organised to promote good governance and security
Chikelue said women bear the brunt of violent extremism in the country as they are kidnapped, raped, battered and used as sex slaves and suicide bombers.
She called on the governmentt to effectively address key structural elements responsible for insecurity and violence in the country.
