The 3rd biennial International Conference on Gender by the Centre of Gender Studies, University of Benin took place from Sunday 4th-8th September 2016 with the theme Strengthening Gender Policy Implementation in a Contemporary World. The biennial conferences are a fulfilment of the Centre's mandate to serve as "a centre of excellence in academic and intervention activities that will contribute significantly to gender equality and equity in the university, the community and the country.
Opening and Plenary Session was 1 opened by the Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, Professor F.F.O. Orumwense on Monday, 5th September 2016 at the Akin Deko (Main) Auditorium, University of Benin with several dignitaries present, including the Honourable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie E. Ehanire.
In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Centre for Gender Studies for organizing the conference and reiterated the commitment of the university to support the Centre. Goodwill messages were received from many persons and organizations, including Dr. Benoit Sossou, Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja. The keynote speaker was Professor Bonny Ibhawoh, Ag. Associate Vice-President (Research) and professor, Department of History/Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, who spoke on "Strategies for Achieving Gender Equality in Africa." There were in addition two lectures during the plenary session by Erelu Bisi Fayemi, former First. Lady of Ekiti State, and a representative of Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja, Mr. Olushola Macaulay respectively. Erelu Fayemi spoke on "Changing the Story: A Roadmap for Addressing Violence ag Addressing Violence against Women and girls." Mr. Macaulay's lecture was on "Gender and Transformative Leadership." Technical Sessions
The conference had seven technical sessions, which were organized around the following subthemes: Gender Education and Career Choice; Information, Communication and Technology; Gender Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Skills; Health, Safety and Environment and Gender Equality. Others were Equity and Advocacy; Gender-based Violence, Human Rights and Surrogacy; and Agriculture and Food Security. A total of forty-five research reports and review papers were presented and discussed in these sessions.
Key Challenges Gender Policy Implementation
Participants at the conference identified the following challenges hindering gender policy implementation:
• Absence of documentation of issues of gender development.
• Lack of integration of women in policy making and implementation.
• Absence of appropriate legal framework to deal with gender issues.
Findings and Recommendation
The following are the key findings and recommendations discussed at the conference:
• There is a strong correlation between gender equity and national development.
• Gender issues are not exclusively women issues, but are concerned with men and children as well.
• There is a weak national framework for gender equity.
• There is a need for indigenous solutions to Nigerian and African challenges.
• There is a need for benchmarking other societies that have done well in gender equity, such as Rwanda, for example.
• Gender equity is a panacea for African leadership challenges.
• There is need for leadership training, using gender studies as a fulcrum.
• There is need to cultivate the political will to resolutely address gender equity.
• There is need for enhanced advocacy.
• Engaging a multisector approach in issues of gender is desirable.
• There is need to ensure the structural modification of the society right from the family to reflect gender realities.
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