Religious leaders must avoid scriptural misinformation and misinterpretation, most especially in the areas that discriminate, marginalize and hurt womanhood.
Avoid painting the girl child as half a male counterpart as well as avoid Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).
Develop the mental capacity of the girl child on par with their female counterparts.
Female children should be allowed to choose a career of their choice based on their God-given talents.
forms. Avoid minor weddings and other forms of abuse against the girl child. Every male orientation must change from perceiving women as objects of sex.
The focus must be on gender equity to avoid partriachal domination through such a policy that will allow women effective participation in all spheres of life.
Women must take the chance to lead and not live at the mercy of men(malevolence)but believe in themselves to achieve any feat. The Holy Quran states that they must not tread a path of being suspicious of promiscuity and they must be able to assert meritorious authority when charged with responsibilities or positions of power, such as in the case of the Queen of Sheba, Bilqees.
''O wives of the Prophet, you are not like anyone among women. If you fear Allah , then do not be soft in speech [to men], lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech.''
Q27 VS. 30-36, ''Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: 'In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me. They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command. She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do. But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return. So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.''
The Challenges impeding Women from Occupying Leadership Positions
Women across nations face several challenges but African countries particularly experience the following:
*Cultural bias favoring male children.
*Domestic violence-mentally, sexually, physically and emotionally by their husbands or partners(molestation, assault and battery to rape).
*Female child labor, abortion, prostitution, and female genital mutilation.
*Child marriage-According to official statistics, 43% of Nigerian girls become married before their 18th birthday and 17% before turning 15 albeit in the northern part of the country.
*Exorbitant Candidate Nomination Fees for Election.
Prof. Olagoke delivered this paper at a Public Function in Ibadan on Tuesday 23rd August, 2022
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