Source: This Day Live
Over the years, women across the world have cried out loudly over their perceived marginalisation by the men. In the build up to the last general elections in Nigeria, the womenfolk introduced into the electioneering campaigns a new battle cry known as Affirmative Action.
This is a policy which demands that 35 per cent of political positions be given to women as a way of ensuring gender equity in governance. However, it is not only in politics that the women feel marginalised, oppressed and disadvantaged.
Sometimes this feeling of being shut out from the opportunities of life are more imaginary than real. Interestingly, women have been so focused on their perceived marginalisation that they sometimes fail to see the many concessions society has had to make at different times in their favour and their own concrete achievements.
Many women have broken the glass ceiling and stepped into some hitherto exclusive male territories but neither they nor even the men seem to want to acknowledge it. This is further compounded by the non-documentation of these achievements because more often than not, the male dominated society tends to exhibit gender bias even in the chronicling of history.
Only a few women are remembered in ancient and just a handful of them have made appearances in modern day publications such as Who's Who.
This is the gap that Cross River Amazons – A profile of 100 Top Cross River Women desires to fill. It is a biographical compendium which highlights a distinct class of women in Cross River State, who have made their mark in various fields of endeavour both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
The 62- page book is a comprehensive database of women in leadership positions, including political office holders, academia and business. It also includes former ministers, commissioners, members of the National Assembly, members of the State House of Assembly, local government chairpersons.
The book pays tribute to the legendary female politician, Mrs Margaret Ekpo, Lady Afi Ekong and Cecilia Ekpenyong. It profiles eminent women such as Mrs Florence Ita-Giwa, Prof. Ekanem Braide, Prof. Theresa Bodam Abang, Dr Rose Abang-Wushishi, Mrs Pelebo Banigo, Prof. Ebele Ewa Eko, Commodore Mercy Ekanem-Nesiama, former First Lady Mrs Onari Duke as well as Mrs Obioma Liyel Imoke, the incumbent First Lady of the state.
The essence of the book is to recognise hard work, celebrate excellence, promote productivity and discipline as well as encourage other women to aspire to greatness. It is also designed to document the struggles and challenges of these women for mentoring purposes in women leadership programmes.
A glance at the work reveals that women of Cross River State have over the years played critical roles in the development of the state and Nigeria. It is expected that anyone who reads the book will come out with a different impression about the quality of women that Cross River has produced and the significant differences they have made in society.
It is hoped that this work will at least change the negative stereotype that women of the state are essentially docile housewives as the book showcases a lot of them who have made giant strides and incredible impacts in different walks of life.
The book is the collaborative efforts of the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs; Gender Perspectives in Development as well as Profiles & Biographies, a specialised publishing firm. It is edited by Tammie Kammonke and Iza Ibok, two personalities that share a common passion for gender equity and social justice.