‘COVID-19 has Deepened Pre-existing Gender Based Violence, Inequalities’

Experts that spoke at the Hacey Health Initiative Women in Leadership one-day webinar, held in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration have revealed that the COVID-19 has not only deepened the pre-existing gender-based violence and inequality in the country, but likewise exposed vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s economic system.

They made these statements while speaking at the webinar with the theme: ‘Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID World,’ where they likewise harped for more women to take up leadership roles in the country.

In her welcome address, the Executive Director, Hacey Health Initiative, Rhoda Robinson, explained that the IWD was a time to reflect on progress made by women, “to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

“COVID-19 has amplified the inequalities women face every day and it’s very important to have a national and global recovery plan to address this across all sectors. “Lockdowns implemented to curb the spread of the virus increased instances of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), curbed access to essential Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, and seriously affected women’s livelihoods and economic opportunities.

“The pandemic-induced poverty surge increased the likelihood of widening the gender poverty gap; meaning, more women will be pushed into extreme poverty than men.

“The pandemic also affected intervention activities of developmental organisations and reduced access to much needed funding for the sustenance of progress to gender equality.

“With all this more women need to be in decision-making spaces and processes where responses to the impact of the pandemic are formed,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Head of Sustainability, Access Bank Plc, Omobolanle VictorLaniyan, noted that women have proven to produce phenomenal outcomes in challenging situations and effectively utilising their higher capacities to balance risk, and their resilience to bounce back from disasters.

“More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.

“Indeed, over the past quarter-century, women’s influence over many facets of public life has increased significantly.

“Women are entering politics in greater numbers than ever before, and their influence over high-level decision-making has been growing.