This is a part of the theme of this year’s Commonwealth Day due to be celebrated on Monday 14th March. It is celebrated on the second Monday of March every year.
We have chosen it as the subject matter of today’s commentary because it accords with our conviction that, by investing in women and girls, we can accelerate social, economic and political progress.
Women and girls make up over half of the world’s population, and it also our conviction that if we continue to educate them, ensure their access to health care and equity, we can go a long way towards addressing the many problems of the world.
We must see women as agents of change, especially in this 21st century, and encourage them for not only the progress of The Gambia, but also the African continent, in particular.
And nothing reinforces the theme more than the fact that women, all over the world, are celebrating 100 years of their achievements.
International Women’s Day is celebrated every 8th March. It is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future; a day that celebrates women’s success, and reminds us of inequities still to be redressed.
There are many countries that have no natural resources, yet are able to register massive development in many sectors, thanks to their continuing empowerment of women.
By contrast, there are some African countries that are endowed with natural wealth, but are steeped in poverty, apparently due to poor utilisation of their human resource, especially when it comes to women’s empowerment.
It all goes to show that it is not what you have that matters, but how you use what you have.
And so by empowering our women, we are convinced that this country can move forward.
A country rich in well-trained and well-mobilised women, and led by purposeful leadership, is bound to be far more prosperous that the one with an ill-trained and poorly supported women and girls.
It is, therefore, important for us to invest a lot in our women and girls.
Indeed, we need both well-trained women and men to move this country of ours forward.
“Don’t compromise yourself. Y-ou are all you’ve got”.
Janis Joplin
