Airports: Group urges FG to name more national monuments after women

By Cecilia  Ijuo

Women in Politics Forum, an NGO, has appealed to the Federal Government to name more national monuments after women.

The Chairperson of the organisation, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

She was reacting to the recent renaming of 15 airports after some renowned Nigerians.

Ifendu said, the non-representation of women on the list was of concern.

According to her, the omission  cannot be an oversight but indication of the poor recognition of women’s roles in nation building.

“Many Nigerian women contributed directly or indirectly to the attainment of independence and are still contributing immensely to national development.

“However, they are not often given the level of recognition required.

“We have women like Gambo Sawaba, Fumilayo Ransome Kuti and Maryam Babangida, who opened the path for Nigerian women and many more,” she said.

Ifendu further said “these brave women defied our highly patriarchal setting to contribute to humanity and should be well celebrated at any given opportunity.

“For instance, I looked through the recent list of 15 airports renamed after some renowned Nigerians and I did not see any woman on the list.

“This is disheartening and I urge the Federal Government and relevant authorities to recognise women more.

She said “the only airport we have named after a woman in the whole of Nigeria is Magaret Ekpo International Airport in Cross River State”.

The chairperson said it was necessary not just to name some airports after women but more national monuments.

“We are not just asking the Federal Government to name more airports after women but other national monuments.

“Women should also be represented in every sector of the economy in the present administration,” she said

(NAN)