The President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has joined other leaders in the country to celebrate women on the occasion of the 2024 International Women’s Day.
“It’s on record that the women in Nigeria have made their marks in their various areas of designation. I wish to commend and celebrate the women in the maritime sector amongst whom are crane operators; we also have the Women in Maritime (WIM) where they have excellently showcased their womanhood in leadership; they also hold the ace in the International Transport Federation (ITF) in leadership and in participation both in Nigeria and Africa and across the world.
“The women have also soared high in the field of policing, soldiering, engineering, education, politics, in the maritime sector, et al, where they have also distinguished themselves in leadership roles. Women have made their marks in all fronts, in the legal profession, where they have proven their mettle across the globe.
“It’s generally believed it’s the man’s world but women have broken all jinx taking the bull by the horns that their place does not only belong to the kitchen; and that they can do better than their male counterparts.
“The women have also taken their strides across the sports profession and are also doing well with female football and refereeing in concert with the Federated International Football Association (FIFA), and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and other affiliate federations across the universe. Women have been adjudged to be tolerant while officiating on the pitch, which makes them best officials of the round leather game by FIFA.
“In view of the foregoing, women need our applauds and encouragement and are worth celebrating on this day and to bring into action the question of gender equality in all facets of human endeavour both in Nigeria and the world at large,” Adeyanju said in a statement issued by the union on Friday.
He said many women have suffered sexual harassment, intimidation, segregation and all sorts of abuse in the hands of men “wherever and whenever they find themselves”.
“It is therefore paramount that women should be inculcated and engaged by giving them the right to compete equally with the men in all facets of life. By so doing, the better we would reshape the world and achieve a better society built by men and women across the world,” he said.
The union leader also congratulated female members of MWUN for “their exploits in the union vis-a-vis their representation in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); the International Transport Federation (ITF); in the shipping, dock, and the seafarers branches for their brilliant participations in all the sectors”.