KIR Foundation celebrated International Women's Day 2023 with a series of events aimed at promoting equity, equality, and inclusivity. The first day of the celebration took place on the Assembly grounds of Community Secondary School Abuloma, Port Harcourt where the CEO of Bookville World, Nkem Asoka, spoke to the students about the importance of embracing equity for an all-inclusive and equitable world. Mrs. Asoka highlighted the fact that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and given equal opportunities to succeed.
The second speaker at the event was, Diepriye Odunna, the Lead Strategist of Zoed Global Resources Ltd and an alumnus of the school. She talked to the young people about #HeforSheHero and why girls should strive to do their best given the current environment where they learn as against the unconducive learning environment in her days in the school. Diepriye shared her personal story with the female students, explaining how she overcame obstacles to succeed. Her message was clear: with determination, hard work, and a supportive environment, anyone can achieve their dreams.
Also, we celebrated the inspirational women who have contributed to the success of KIR Foundation over the past 12 years online. These women In their various roles as staff, volunteers, facilitators, coaches, and mentors have supported our various programmes. The Foundation recognizes that women play an essential role in society, and it is important to celebrate their accomplishments and support them in any way possible.
On Friday, the 10th of March, the KIR Foundation Thank God It's Inspiration Friday(TGIIF) Youth Hub had a special session to discuss the theme of International Women’s Day. Emmanuel Macdonald a KIR Foundation Ambassador and #HeforSheHero explained the difference between equity and equality. He stressed that while equality means treating everyone in the same way, equity involves providing different levels of support to ensure everyone has an equal chance of success.
Then, on Saturday, the 11th of March, the KIR Foundation Digital Hub members talked about the theme of IWD and the importance of empowering women in the digital ecosystem. A member of the Hub, Ebube Ugwu, spoke on how technology breeds inclusion and equality in society. She highlighted the fact that technology has the power to connect people in different parts of the world and provides access to information and resources that were previously unavailable, thus giving women access to more opportunities globally.
The celebration of International Women's Day 2023 was a week-long celebration because we are aware that one day is not enough to celebrate women and to discuss exhaustively the challenges that women face. KIR Foundation’s aim through the above activities was to amplify the universal principles of equity, equality, and inclusivity, which resonated with all the participants (male and female) who attended the events. In KIR Foundation we believe that gender equality and equity is fundamental for building a more just and equitable society.
