Brief History of International Women’s Day
What has come to be referred to and acknowledged globally as the International Women’s Day has a long history that dates back to the early 1900s.
Central to this all-important discuss is the progressive marched by 15,000 women in 1908, through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
As significant as this could be, the first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28, a feat which can be credited to the declaration by the Socialist Party of America, where women continued to celebrate the national woman’s Day (NWD) on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
Again, historical timeline is replete with landslide emphasis underscoring the critical roles of women, which eventually snowballed into the International Women’s Day celebration.
In actual sense, and for records, the year 1910, marked the second international conference of Working Women, which was held courtesy of Clara Zetkin, who proposed that every year there should be a celebration on the same day – that is, a women’s day to press their freedom.
Against this noticeable effort, in 1911, and following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in Denmark in 1911, International Women’s Day was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March, with more than one million women and men attending IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination.
Techeconomy can go on and on to establish and lay a sordid structure for this pertinent and all-important occasion.
But to dwarf time and contract spaces, the following touch line suffices: 1913-1914- On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February 1917.
However, in the year 1975, International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked for the first time by the United Nations. Later on in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
Has anything changed since 1996? Yes, the United Nations Organization (UN) announced its first annual theme “Celebrating the past, planning for the Future” which was followed in 1997 with “Women at the Peace table”, in 1998 with “Women and Human Rights”, in 1999 with “World Free of Violence Against Women”, and so on each year.
Let me save the stress of a long read, nonetheless, since the late 1990s to the millennium till date, women have grown to become a force to be reckoned with.
Therefore, in concert with the commemoration of International Women’s Day globally, a celebration which the United Nations tagged “Invest in women: Accelerate progress’’ we have chosen to beam our searchlight on organizations and individuals who have not only over time championed the course of economic emancipation, but have also given a new look and fresh perspective to womanhood in Africa and become a beacon of hope to humanity at large.
Of significance is the fact we cannot boast of having given you an exclusive list of all of them, but we can be sure you would appreciate these non-governmental organizations (NGOs) contributions toward championing women’s participation in science and technology, agriculture; they are on the vanguard for women’s rights and protection, empowerment and health:
Organizations Promoting Women in STEM
The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates that only 22% of graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM) subjects are women.
There are many NGOs focused on promoting women’s involvement and empowerment in science, tech and STEM in general. Here are a few notable ones:
1. African Women in Technology (AWIT)
Aims to empower and support African women in technology through networking events, workshops, and skill-building programs.
2. Afro-Tech Girls
In June 2014, three young Nigerian women came together with a vision: a world where the number of women in the STEM industries has risen and women feel welcomed and appreciated for their efforts and achievements.
They realized that one way to do this was by encouraging more young girls to take up STEM subjects at secondary school and university and stick with it even after education. Hence, Afro-Tech Girls was born to increase the participation of girls and young women in STEM.
3. She Code Africa
She Code Africa offers training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women in tech to enhance their skills and advance their careers.
4. TechHerNG
Here is a is a community of learning, support and collaboration for women working with technology.
It also a platform for encouraging entrepreneurship and providing basic support for women going into business.
TerHer also provides a platform for information sharing amongst women on basic day to day challenges with the aim of aiding empowerment and independence.
The founder believes that if women are exposed to the ways technology enables their daily activities, they will be more productive and empowered to have a voice in their community.
5. Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)
Give it to W.TEC, an organzation that provides technology education, leadership training, and mentorship programs for girls and women to increase their participation in the tech sector.
6. Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN)
WITIN is a registered non-profit organization and association, dedicated to the advancement of women and girls.
WITIN fosters opportunities in tech; promotes tech leadership, digital skills and entrepreneurship initiatives and advocates gender equity reforms for women and girls; and showcases the amazing women in the tech ecosystem as role model for girls while working closely with educators to bridge the leaky pipeline in STEAM(Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths).
The NGO achieves these goals through partnerships, sponsorships and donations. WITIN nurtures a very strong community of women and girls in technology within Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
7. Women in Tech Africa
A Pan-African organization that advocates for gender equality in the tech industry through networking, mentorship, and capacity-building programs.
Over the years, WiTA has strategically focused on enabling women to drive Africa’s growth story and create an impact on personal life through technology.
Currently, its target audience comprises aspiring female tech entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40.
8. Nigerian Women In Information Technology (NIWIIT) is a special interest group of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS). We are positioned to be a premier organisation known to successfully cultivate mutually beneficial Networks between industry, academia, and government, focusing on women working in Information Technology across the Nation.
Creation: (Mrs) Adeola Ilechukwu informed the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) at her 17th regular Council meeting on the 24th February 2012 that it would be necessary to create an Interest Group for female members of NCS
9. Women in STEM Leadership (WISL)
WISL is the premier organization for empowering women with the support and tools needed to elevate their careers and become agents of change in the STEM industry.
WISL is a network of like-minded women who are genuinely invested in helping you reach your potential.
These organizations play crucial roles in supporting and empowering women in science Nigeria, helping to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women to thrive in STEM fields.
10. Webfala Digital Skills For All Initiative (Webfala):
Webfala Digital Skills For All Initiative is not focused just on women, but they deserve a mention in this list.
The NGO has demonstrated commitment to providing digital education, resources and tools for the delivery of STEM, ICT and 21st century digital literacy skills to underserved youths in Africa. Their grassroot programmes have impacted over 20,000 people.
Organizations Promoting Women’s Health and Well-being
Nigeria’s 40 million women of childbearing age (between 15 and 49 years of age) suffer a disproportionally high level of health issues surrounding birth.
While the country represents 2.4 per cent of the world’s population, it currently contributes 10 per cent of global deaths for pregnant mothers. Figures show a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, the fourth highest on Earth.
Several NGOs in Nigeria focus on promoting women’s health and well-being. Here are some notable ones:
11. Society for Family Health (SFH) –
SFH implements various health programs targeting women, including reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and cervical cancer screening.
12. Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA)
WBFA focuses on maternal, newborn, and child health, providing education, training, and advocacy to improve access to healthcare services for women and children.
13. Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC)
WHARC carries our research, advocacy, and capacity-building activities to address women’s health issues, including reproductive health, maternal mortality, and gender-based violence.
Executive Director: Wilson Imongan
14. Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
Here is an organization that promotes women’s health and rights through advocacy, education, and awareness-raising campaigns on issues such as sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and gender-based violence.
15. Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI)
NURHI implements family planning programs targeting urban areas, including efforts to increase access to contraception and reproductive health services for women.
These NGOs play a crucial role in addressing the health needs of women in Nigeria through various programs and initiatives aimed at improving their overall well-being and quality of life.
Organizations Promoting Financial Inclusion among Women
Data2x research uncovered important market findings – Nigeria’s gender gap in financial access grew from 10.2 percent to 12 percent between the years 2012 and 2020. Modeling conducted as part of research suggests that the gap will not drop below 10 percent until 2027.
However, some organizations are committed to reducing this number. They are dedicated to promoting financial inclusion for women. Some notable ones include:
16. Women’s World Banking (WWB) Nigeria:
WWB expands the economic assets, participation, and power of low-income women through access to finance, knowledge, and markets.
17. Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF):
NWTF works to increase the representation of women in governance and decision-making processes, including economic empowerment initiatives.
18. Herconomy
Herconomy is arguable Nigeria’s first Fintech Company for women dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs and professionals through financial services, capacity building, community, and opportunities.
19. HerVest.ng
HerVest is an inclusive fintech for women. The startup provides easy access to target savings, impact investments and credit financing for smallholder women farmers and women-owned/led SMEs in Nigeria.
Hervest is truly bridging the gender finance gap from the boardroom to the farmland.
The platform offers various services such as loans, investments, and market access solutions to support the agricultural value chain. Hervest.ng aims to empower farmers and promote sustainable agriculture by providing them with access to finance and market opportunities.
20. Mamamoni
Mamamoni is social enterprise that focuses on empowering low-income women by providing them with access to financial services, vocational training, and business support.
The organization offers microloans to women entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural and underserved communities, to help them start or expand their businesses.
In addition to financial services, Mamamoni provides training programs in skills such as tailoring, catering, and soap making, equipping women with the tools they need to generate income and improve their livelihoods.
Overall, Mamamoni plays a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.
21. Shecluded
The fintech platform that provides financial services tailored to women, including savings, investments, and loans. They aim to empower women financially through education and access to suitable financial products.
These organizations and others like them play a crucial role in advancing financial inclusion for women in Nigeria through various programs, advocacy efforts, and partnerships.
Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Techeconomy!
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