The Chairperson’s Address.
•Chibuzo Maureen Nwosu Chairperson FIDA Abuja Branch.
It is with immense delight that I welcome you to the Branch’s 2023 Law week, which commenced on the 1st of December 2023, and accords with the long established legal tradition witnessed every year.
As many of us already know, our mission is to promote, protect and preserve the rights, interests, and well being of women and children using the legal framework to ensure that they live free from all forms of discrimination, violence, and abuse in an egalitarian and equitable society. Instructively, the theme of this year’s Law week, to wit: “A 2023 Reflection on Institutional Mechanisms for Advancing Women’s Right in Nigeria” comes at a time where a few institutions cripple the civil and political will of women in Nigeria. National machineries for the advancement of women are appropriate institutional mechanisms for ensuring that gender main streaming agendas are implemented and issues of gender equality remain in focus in public policy. As the Law Week coincides with the international campaign on violence against women (16 Days of Activism), it is pertinent to beam the search-light on national machineries that promote the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and set goals and targets in which these machineries can work to our benefit and, of course, institutionalize women’s interests in all areas and sectors of policy at all levels. 
As I welcome you participants, I must also, on behalf of the Association express our profound gratitude to our critical stakeholders: various sponsors who never get tired of supporting our programmes, our speaker and special guests. I specially recognize the law week planning committee who have worked assiduously towards the actualization of this year’s Law Week.
I must also place on record the support of our members who have continued to place their trust and confidence in us and without whom there would be no law week. My gratitude also goes to members of my team and the secretariat staff.
May your selfless services to humanity will not go unrewarded.
I wish you a great Law Week ahead, and may the deliberations therein be put into action for the betterment of the Nigerian women, our noble association and the country at large.
It was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortex who said: “justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet. In fact, often times, the most righteous thing you can do is shake the table.” Distinguished and eminent ladies and gentlemen, it is for this reason that I excitedly welcome you to this momentous occasion of the FIDA (Nigeria), Abuja Branch’s 2023 Law Week celebration as we take on the theme: A 2023 REFLECTION ON INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS FOR ADVANCING WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN NIGERIA.
In a departure from our common tradition, as we reflect, appraise and interrogate the institutional mechanisms for advancing women’s rights in our country, the conversations in this room will not be dominated by any “panel of select expert speakers.” Instead, today, while we will have the pleasure of a few presentations from some women who are consistently committed to the cause of women and children, the voices that will flesh out or chart diverse perspectives on the theme will be yours and mine.
So yes, I implore you all to be active participants in this vital conversation today: Where are we on the subject of the advancement of women’s rights?
Are our traditional, social, legislative, legal, political and other mechanisms active and satisfactory?
Are there gaps that militate against the true advancement of women’s rights in Nigeria?
What progressive developmental steps are expedient to remedy the gaps, if any?
Whose role is it to bridge these gaps, and when?
By this welcome comments, I trust that you have a clear concept of the business of today, and I look forward to a robust, diverse, inclusive and experiential flow of contributions that will shape a profound communique, that will contribute to FIDA Abuja’s advocacy tool machinery.
And remember, as said by Audre Lorde, YOU ARE NOT FREE WHILE ANY WOMAN IS UNFREE, EVEN WHEN HER SHACKLES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN.
So most respectable ladies and gentlemen, get ready and please feel free to shake tables this afternoon.
I deeply appreciate your making out the time to be with us today, despite the many competing important activities of this season of the 16 Days of activism; and I warmly welcome you to this auspicious event.
And may I in closing, charge us all to continue to unite and invest to prevent violence against woman and girls,
Once again, on behalf of every member of the Law Week Committee, all of who greatly contributed to the planning and hosting of this epochal event, I warmly welcome you and look forward to an engaging, enlightening and versatile time in this room.
Thank you.
