By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
KAKATA, Liberia– The Assistant Minister for Early Childhood Education at the Ministry of Education, Thelma Nimmo has admonished graduates of the Dekargai Vocational School in Kakata, Margibi County to impact their communities.
Assistant Minister Nimmo made the assertion when she served as guest speaker during the graduation ceremony of about 50 women who completed six months training and skills development in Soap Making, Tie Dying, Hair Dressing and Tailoring.
The Assistant Education Minister further encouraged the graduates to change their space, homes, communities and nation where they can develop and reach their full potential.
She told them that their families, communities and Liberia need them, and as such they should go ahead and change the world.
According to her, against all odds, the graduates have persevered to conquer. She disclosed that empowering them is a powerful remedy to many of Liberia’s problems.
“Today, we know that empowering you is the key to our economic growth, political stability, and social transformation,” Assistant Minister Nimmo said, urging the youths to make use of what you have to
Speaking on the theme, “the importance of women empowerment in National development,” Madam Nimmo reminded the graduates that across the world, the empowerment of women and girls continues to be a priority for the global development sector.
Research shows that women reinvest 90% of their income into the family, compared to 30 to 40% by their male counterparts something according to her indicates that women spend more on the wellbeing of their children, providing food, shelter, and education for them than men, according to the Assistant Education Minister.
“This in turn creates long-term social and economic gains for their communities. By this fact, women are an integral part of efforts to end the cycle of poverty. So, what is the importance of empowering women?” she asked.
She explained that Liberia is a developing country and its economy is growing and that the country and its society are male-dominated, with women are mostly forced to sit behind at home and do household tasks.
But the Education Ministry official said this should not be the reason why women need to be empowered.
Assistant Minister Nimmo argued that every citizen in this country, both men and women should understand that men are not only the power of the country, but are rather the half power and it takes both women and men in the country to take it forward towards the path of development.
She maintained that the first step is to understand the power of women and let them take the lead in deciding their life and independence.
“When women can take over the power of a family, why not she take hold of the business and even the country’s affairs which we have done with the election of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf” she averred.
She added that gender equality is an important step to bringing women empowerment stating that both men and women are equal and that men should understand that women are not born to take the responsibility of the household.
The Assistant Education Minister recommends that women should be given the opportunity and support to choose their own career and be independent in the world.
She said with women empowerment, the productivity of the family and the entire community improves adding, ‘it is said that when women in a family are educated, the future generation will get a better chance’.
The Education Ministry official outlined many social issues hindering women empowerment such as gender-based violence, abuse, reproductive health inequities, economic discrimination, as well as traditional practices.