Directorate of Gender Affairs and Equality Holds Workshop for Male Student Affairs Officers

On Saturday 5, November 2022, the Directorate of Gender Affairs and Equality held a workshop for male student affairs officers of Godfrey Okoye University.

Speaking at the event were Arc. Favour Ononuju, Assoc. Prof. Fr. Ikechukwu Ani, Dr. Ben Onwukwalonye and Fr. Theophilus Ndulue

Highlights of the speakers are:

• Gender equality is not all about women. The male gender is involved too.
• Gender equality is one of the agenda in the SDGs (sustainable development goals).
• Gender equality is not all about men and women being the same, each gender has their areas of strengths and weaknesses.
• Equality can be achieved when both genders are given equal opportunities and a level playing ground.
• Gender equality makes the community safer and healthier.
• It is a fundamental human right for both boys and girls to have a level playing ground.
• Becoming an effective brand ambassador entails promoting gender equality affairs, especially being vocal (see something, say something).
• The social media can be used to preach the message of gender equality
• Other ways of becoming a brand ambassador is to promote gender equality in work place, give constructive feedback on the affairs, join and support a cause that promotes gender equality matters.
• The male gender should stop complaining about how better the female gender is being treated and take an active step to present their own challenges. Take back your responsibility!
• Recall that we are all equal, before God ( 1 Cor. 12:4-26)
• Avoid inferiority and superiority complex.
• Debunk common prejudices about each gender e.g. that males are stronger than females, the male gender is more hardworking, males are more trustworthy etc.
• Three important points to note for gender equality promotion is; technical competence, personal integrity and human sensitivity.
• The tenets of SDG 5 on gender equality should be reviewed towards effective gender equality promotion.
• Gender equality promotion should be championed in co-educational institutions.

The Director Gender Affairs and Equality, Dr. Pat Allison spoke on breaking the gender inequality bias.