According to Wikipedia, Social change involves alteration of the social order of a society. It may include changes in social institutions, social behaviors or social relations.
Family is considered the first agent of socialization and women are seen as the primary caretakers of the young ones in the family. Women play an important role in facilitating or hindering changes in family life which affects the society inadvertently. Women are naturally the doctors, educators and caretakers within the family, and they become the glue that holds the family together and connects it to the larger community to address common needs and concerns. As women take up essential roles within the family, the roles naturally expand to the community, nation, and world, because they are raising the next generation of people who will become contributors to not just the family but the society at large.
There is a growing consensus that women’s equal rights and opportunity is linked to peace, prosperity, human development and democracy. How a country taps the talents and capacity of its women greatly determines its economic, social and political progress. Women in most societies, whether developed or developing are regarded as currency with which political and economic alliances are established.
In Nigeria, women have made some remarkable impact in contributing to the development of the nation. Such as the late Mrs. Margaret Ekpo, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Mrs. Janet Mokelu, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Hajia and Mrs. Maryam Babangida. There is also able Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who in her capacity as Finance Minister in Nigeria, instituted various reforms in Nigeria, thereby making the country one of the best economies in the world.
Truth is envisioning a world where girls and women are fully active agents of change means planning a change for the better.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to address issues of gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.
