INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: LANGUAGE EXPERT TASK WOMEN ON PURSUANCE OF GOALS.

Adeyemi College of Education, Nigeria.

International Women’s Day: Language Expert task Women on Pursuance of Goals.

A language expert, Dr. Yetunde Olukemi Akorede, has advised women across the world to pursue their goals without giving consideration to bias or barriers that could truncate their aspirations.

Akorede, one time Dean, School of Languages, Adeyemi College of Education Ondo, gave the advice in a paper presented at the year 2022 International Women’s Day conference, organised by the Adeyemi College of Education Female Staff Association (ACEFSA) which held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 in the institution.

Speaking on the topic: “Breaking Gender bias and Barriers: The Women’s urgent Agenda for inspiring women to pursue goals without bias or barriers,” the erudite scholar pointed out that “Gender has become a conceptualized term of power, that draws a sharp line loaded with socio[1]cultural, political, economic and educational determinants between the male and female”.

According to her, “the politicization or politicizations of gender is the factor responsible for the internalization of the perceived inferiority of the woman, and her unquestioning acceptance of the weaker sex syndrome with the attendant established traits of low intelligence, irrationality and powerlessness,” The one-time Head of Department of English, ACE Ondo added that the use of politicization as weapon of propaganda, has been employed for the “entrenchment of the unquestioned political and intellectual superiority of men”.

She bemoaned the treatment being meted to women saying “the unfortunate part of it all, is that the woman is the agent of negative education, which starts from home when parents encourages their sons and daughters to see through the stained lens of culturally determined roles, which make the boy’s superiority over the girl, the undisputable curriculum in the family”.

She enumerated three types of gender barriers to include family related barrier, socio-cultural barrier and institutional barriers.

As a way of addressing the problem, the English Language expert listed five barrier breaking approaches that could be put into practice to include consistency, Persistence /resilience, Planning, Strategizing, Sensible dressing, development of good healthy habit, knowing ones level of limitation as well as breaking the victim- enjoyment mentality and giving consideration to God “as one who has authority over all things”.

Also in another paper presented on the occasion by the Head Pharmaceutical Unit, Adeyemi College of Education Health Centre, Mr. Sade Adeolu, she stressed the need for women to give adequate attention to their health.

Delivering a paper on “An overview of cancer” with emphasis on “Breast cancer” the medical expert described the disease as global and expressed serious concern on its increase across the world.

While describing women as the most susceptible to the disease, Adeolu advised them to undertake regular self-examination saying the step would help in lowering risk of dying from the disease.

The Adeyemi College Health Centre Pharmaceutical Unit Head spoke about the dangers of breast cancer, saying the disease which has been described as the leading cause of death of women in Africa and second in developing nations, could be prevented and clinically treated if discovered on time.

Earlier in his remarks, the Provost of the College, Dr. Samuel Akintunde thanked God for grace given to all participants to witness the year 2022 edition of International Women’s Day Celebration.

While commending ACEFSA for organizing the event, the College Chief Executive Officer expressed serious concern about the failure of some female staff in the College to attend the occasion, which was meant to celebrate women across the globe.

He reiterated the resolve of his administration to continue to identify with ACEFSA in its effort at improving the lots of its members in the institution, and advised members of the association, to invites their husbands to attend subsequent celebrations.

Also in her address of welcome, the President of ACEFSA, Mrs. Olaoluwakiitan Adebayo, expressed gratitude to God for making the celebration possible and appreciated those who graced the event.

On reasons why the 2020 and 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration could not hold, Adebayo attributed the development to the emergence of COVID -19 pandemic, which she said prevented large gathering of people.

She expressed appreciation to the Provost, Dr. Samuel Akintunde and other members of College management for financial support and encouragement.

In addition, she equally lauded Doctors Yetunde Oluwakemi Akorede and Martina Chinelo Onuegbu for conceding the idea that gave birth to ACEFSA.

Similarly, the ACEFSA president also appreciated the contributions immediate past Provost of the College, Prof. Olukoya Ogen and current Registrar of the institution, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede and executive members of the body for their contributions to the advancement of the association.

The highpoint of the occasion held at the Music Department was the presentation of Award of Excellence to the College Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede and Dr. Yetunde Oluwakemi Akorede and Dr. Martina Chinelo Onuegbu respectfully.

Eminent personalities that witnessed the event include the College Provost, Dr. Samuel Akintunde; Deputy Provost, Dr. Gbade Ikuejube; Registrar, Mrs. Olufisayo Fakorede; Bursar, Mr. Ganiyu Abdul represented by Mrs. Taiwo Olufumilayo Adedoyin and Mr. Onyekachi Nwaozor as well as Mr. Oluwagbemiga Omotayo, from the College Directorate of Information and Public Relations and executive members of ACEFSA among others.