From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
A university don, Professor Elizabeth Yecho, has emphasized the urgent need to recognize women as partners in development, rather than relegating them to traditional roles or viewing them merely as figures for the “margins of the other room.”
Professor Yecho made this call while delivering the 12th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, titled “Beyond the Margins: Historicizing the Transformative Impact of Nigerian Women.”
Yecho, a lecturer in the Department of History and Strategic Studies at the university, made a veiled reference to a comment once popularized by former President Muhammadu Buhari, stating that contrary to such perceptions, women are “strong pillars for collaboration in development.”
“Contrary to the belief that women are the weaker sex and should be consigned to the margins of society, women must be embraced as pillars and partners in progress,” she said.
Professor Yecho argued that women are critical agents of development and deserve a central role in governance and leadership, beyond token representation or peripheral roles.
“It is imperative that laws promoting women’s rights are enacted and enforced to bridge the existing gender gap in the country. Women’s education must be prioritized,” she stated.
She further stressed that ending gender-based violence is crucial to achieving meaningful development for women.
“Women’s development cannot thrive in a society plagued by gender violence. There is a need to increase scholarships for girls, especially in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. Encouraging more women to enter these critical sectors is vital for national development,” Yecho added.
The professor also called for the engagement of men in gender advocacy, urging them to act not only as upholders of gender equity but also as allies of women.
“The implication here is that both men and women must begin to perceive women as intellectually equal. Men must also speak out against sexual harassment and support the implementation of non-discriminatory policies,” she noted.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, commended Professor Yecho for her achievement, describing it as a milestone.
“She has made the university proud, being the first woman from her department—and indeed the first woman from the university—to deliver an inaugural lecture, despite numerous challenges,” Professor Bichi stated.
