Thousands of Rivers women from the 23 local government areas of the state trooped to the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt on Thursday to celebrate the International Women’s Day.
The event was marked by a parade by different women groups, exhibitions, speeches by women leaders and top government officials and traditional dances.
Addressing Rivers women at the event, wife of the Rivers State Governor, Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, called for the economic empowerment of women at all levels.
The Rivers governor’s wife stated that male and female children should be treated equally by parents for future gender equality.
Her words: “Just as we place premium on the boy child, so we should for the girl child. Our girls through equal treatment will be better prepared for future leadership roles”.
The wife of the Rivers State governor said that women who were economically empowered could better handle family challenges, health and other issues.
“If we get it right with economic empowerment for women, everything will fall in place. With economic empowerment, comes everything the woman wants to do for herself “, she said.
She warned against discrimination between girl-child and boy-child in homes.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, represented by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Sir Kenneth Kobani, said that the state government would institute a women empowerment programme.
Governor Wike said that his administration would always appoint women into key offices and also accord them the deserved recognition.
He called on Rivers women to support the state government as it keeps its promises to the Rivers people.
Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo assured that women would continue to enjoy opportunities in Rivers State through the support of the Rivers State Government.
Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri, said that the Rivers State Government was creating the right atmosphere for the promotion of gender equality.