Men need to speak out on sexual harassment – Don

A lecturer from the Department of History and Strategic Studies, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Professor Elizabeth Yecho, has advocated the urgent passage of laws that promote women’s rights to bridge the existing gender parity in the country.

She also call on men to speak out on issues such as sexual harassment and others.

Yecho made this known on Monday while delivering lecture at the University 12th Inaugural Lecture on the theme ‘Beyond the Margins: Historicizing Transformative Impact of Nigerian Women’.

“Strict measures are also needed to curb gender based violence in society generally. Women development cannot be achieved in a society bedeviled by gender violence,” she said.

The Don further stressed the need for the recognition of women as development partners rather than just being perceived as human beings good only for the “Margins of the other room”.

She said, “With apologies to former president Muhammadu Buhari who popularised the statement, women are strong pillars for collaboration for development. Contrary to the perception that women are the weaker sex and therefore should be consigned to the margins of society.”

Yecho explained that women must be accepted as pillars and partners for progress. Women are critical agents of development and deserve a prime place in societal governance beyond being given peripheral roles.

There is a need for an increase in scholarships for young girls in the field of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. This is important in encouraging more women to take up careers in critical sectors of national building’’ she said.

Yecho also stressed the need to engage men as people who uphold the gender hegemony and also people who are gender-allies of women adding that “the implication here is that both women and men need to first perceive women as intellectually equal.

“Men need to speak out on issues such as sexual harassment and ensure non-discriminatory policies are instituted and implemented.

In his remarks, the University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi commended Prof . Yecho’s efforts for making the university proud being the first woman to present such a lecture from her department and the first woman from the University despite numerous challenges in life.