Nigerian actress, Nkechi Blessing, has joined other Nigerian women clamoring to pass the gender discrimination bill in the national assembly.
The bills pending before the National Assemblysought affirmative action for women in government and political representation.
These bills include 35 percent appointed positions for women and 20 percent affirmative action in party administration in Nigeria.
Five of the bills, which sought to promote opportunities for women in politics, government and society in general, did not obtain the necessary support from legislators.
Yoruba actress Nkechi Blessing distributes food in the main markets of Abeokuta.
Lawmakers on Tuesday rescinded their decision on three bills they scrapped in a constitutional amendment session.
The House of Representatives announced Tuesday that it will now reconsider the bills in a month when it reconvenes for another parliamentary session.
Several women’s groups packed the National Assembly in Abuja to protest the rejection of bills seeking gender equality.
The actress took charge of the call while delivering food and other relief items to women in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state, as part of a women’s empowerment campaign.
Yoruba actress Nkechi Blessing distributes food in the main markets of Abeokuta.
Ms. Blessing, Group CEO of Ojulowo Omoluabi Empire Holdings Limited, promised to empower more young women to become self-sufficient.
During his opening speech, he said it was time for men to take pity on women and make sure they had a say in the things that mattered to them.
She said: “I can only call on our legislators to please hold us women in high regard for the first time in this country and allow us to contribute to the issues that concern us.
Yoruba actress Nkechi Blessing distributes food in the main markets of Abeokuta.
“Please remember that we cannot be selfish with power because there is nothing we can do if the interests of our children and husband are not taken care of. In other words, we will remain submissive even after empowering ourselves in society, but please give us a voice as well. We need to be heard.”
relief items
Meanwhile, the celebrity called on other wealthy women to emulate her and help women in need around the world.
Nkechi, as she is affectionately called, had previously announced how she would give women a life preserver to celebrate their contributions to national development.
She told this newspaper that she hoped to donate clothes, rice, spaghetti and palm oil to 2,000 women in Abeokuta.
Yoruba actress Nkechi Blessing distributes food in the main markets of Abeokuta.
She said: “I will not stop giving to women as long as God continues to bless me. I will also continue to bless women with the few resources that I have obtained… when we get more support, we will do more and I want to use this medium to congratulate women around the world.”
The actress, who is married to an Ekiti-born politician, Falegan David, rose to fame in 2012 after landing a leading role in ‘Kafila Omo Ibadan’.
