Advocates Want Ministry of Women Affairs Changed to Ministry of Gender Mainstreaming

Bassey Inyang in Calabar

The Centre for Gender Development (CGD), University of Calabar, has urged he federal government to change the name of the Ministry of Women Affairs to the Ministry of Gender Mainstreaming.

The suggestion comes against the backdrop of the celebration of International Men’s Day observed on November 19,.a day earmarked to highlight various challenges faced by men, including abuse, homelessness, suicide, and violence.

The Centre, which specialises in gender issues, hosted the inaugural International Men’s Day event with the theme: ‘Men’s Health Champion’, reaffirming its dedication to combating gender-based violence and advocating gender equality.

The Executive Director of the Centre, Dr. Brenda Akpan, said that this observance is a time to recognise the lives, achievements, and contributions of boys and men, particularly in relation to their roles in nation-building, society, and family life.

She expressed the Centre’s intention to celebrate Men’s Day annually with a focus on men’s health and well-being in various aspects-social, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

The event featured a presentation by Prof. Rowland Ndoma Egba, who discussed the theme: ‘The 21st Century Men’s Approaches to Stress Management’.

Ndoma-Egba said stress as an ‘invisible disease’, as he outlined its primary causes and effects.

In a goodwill message, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, said that while considerable attention has been directed towards empowering girls and women, boys and men have often been overlooked.