Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
Women have been urged to stand against gender-based violence, shield their property, perceive their authorized rights and develop the braveness to overcome private and societal challenges.
The name was made by the Director of the Office of the Public Defender, Dr Evelyn Membere Asimiea, and the Co-Pastor of Gateway International Church, Dr Manuela George Izunwa, on the church’s annual Beautiful Life Women’s Convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference, themed “Lady Gibbor: Building Women of Might,” introduced collectively girls from the church’s branches in Port Harcourt and throughout States in Nigeria for non secular renewal, authorized enlightenment and private improvement.
Speaking on the subject, “A Woman and Her Legal Rights,” Asimiea stated each girl deserved dignity, safety, property possession and safety from all types of abuse, stressing that non secular beliefs shouldn’t be used to justify violence or injustice.
“Marriage does not make a woman her husband’s property. Being a Christian does not mean that a woman must accept abuse. And forgiveness does not mean that you must remain in danger,” she stated.
She urged girls to cease treating home violence as a non-public household matter, noting that abuse might be bodily, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial.
According to her, girls experiencing violence ought to search applicable help, together with medical consideration, counselling, police intervention and authorized safety, relying on their circumstances.
“As women, we need to change one attitude. Instead of asking a woman, ‘What did you do to make him angry?’ let us sometimes ask, ‘Are you safe?’ That question may save a life,” she stated.
Asimiea additionally suggested girls to safeguard their property and monetary pursuits by conserving related paperwork, recording enterprise transactions and in search of authorized recommendation earlier than signing agreements.
She emphasised that daughters shouldn’t be discriminated against in inheritance issues due to their gender, urging moms to educate their daughters about property possession, monetary administration and their authorized entitlements.
“A right that you do not know about can easily be taken away from you. And a right that you know about but do not know how to enforce may remain only words in a law book,” she stated.
The public defender additional inspired girls to search help early moderately than wait till disputes over property, inheritance, funds or home violence turned crises.
In her remarks, Izunwa careworn that girls’s energy was developed via deliberate coaching, private progress and brave motion moderately than inherited or decided solely by persona.
“Being a mighty woman is built, not inherited,” she stated, including {that a} girl might be quiet, mild and nonetheless possess extraordinary energy.
She urged girls not to enable previous disappointments, errors or troublesome circumstances to outline their future, encouraging them to concentrate on private improvement moderately than examine their journeys with these of others.
“You do not become a woman of might by accident. You become one through training,” she stated.
Earlier, the President of the church’s Women’s Ministry, Pastor Meg Lawal, described the conference as an annual platform for transformation, empowerment and non secular renewal, aimed toward constructing girls who might excel of their properties, careers, ministries and communities.
Lawal stated the gathering was meant to equip girls with the data, confidence and non secular energy to navigate challenges and contribute meaningfully to their households and society.
She appreciated the Co-Pastor , Dr Izunwa, for “your love, encouragement, motherly care and unwavering presence in the affairs of the Women’s Ministry. Your support means so much to us, and we are truly grateful to have you as our mother.”
To the ladies, she added: “As we navigate the different seasons of our lives, balancing our responsibilities in our homes, careers, ministries, and communities, I encourage you never underestimate the power of a woman who knows her God, understands her purpose, and refuses to surrender her destiny to the challenges of life”.
The ministry’s Publicity Secretary, Mrs Ann Godwin, stated the Beautiful Life Summit was designed to deal with points affecting girls, together with authorized safety, entrepreneurship and profession development.
