But why still focus on the 08 March event? It’s simple cognizant of the fact that the International Women’s Day theme runs through 08 March, 2011 to 07 March 2012. As such, the UN System continues events to ensure the reflection and implementation of actions to permit the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals before 2015, Mrs. Anne Nsang of the United Nations System in Cameroon explained in her historical background presentation. The audience listened with rapt attention when she revealed that although the gender gap in education is closing, there are wide differences within and across countries. She buttressed facts with statistics of 2010. For instance, two-thirds of the 72 million children without access to education are girls, 70% of the 759 million illiterate adults are women. She stressed on steps taken by the UN on gender equality and the empowerment of women with the creation of UN Women who, among other issues, work for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries.
In the same vein, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea , Professor Vincent P.K. Titanji in his welcome address harped on efforts being made towards gender equality and the advancement of women in the institution. He did not only mention the rapid rise of women at the level of Assistant Professors as an encouraging phenomenon, but noted that the University of Buea is the first State University to have “Women and Gender Studies” right from its inception. He noted that Dr. Dorothy Njeuma is the first ever woman to head a State University in Cameroon and that was the University of Buea .
In her Situational Report, Dr. Niger-Thomas Margaret, Director, Economic Advancement of the Women and the Family, Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family(MINPROFF) presented data from the BUCREP (the Central Bureau of Census and
Population Studies) that speak for themselves. Apart from the University of Buea where women accounted for almost 60% of the students during the 2006/2007 academic year, the female student population is less than 50% in other State Universities. Unfortunately, in UB in 2006/2007, girls constituted only 34.0% of students registered in the Faculty of Science. She disclosed that only 1.9% of women occupy positions of top management in both public and private enterprises in Cameroon . To remedy the situation, she called for special emphasis to motivate girls to cultivate interest in scientific and technical fields.
Dr. Lotsmark Fonjong, who delved on gender sensitivity, revealed that UB has a female staff of 25% as against a male staff of 75 %. Professor Joyce B. Endeley of the Department of Women and Gender Studies gave an in-depth lecture on the “Role, Challenges, Strategies and the Way Forward.”
Elated with the symposium, Dr. Saibou Nassourou, Secretary General in the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (representing the Minister), hailed the University of Buea as a reference in the study of gender issues in Cameroon . He equally hailed the United Nations that is striving for a society of equity, peace and development and praised all stakeholders who contributed for the success of the symposium. Books, documentation and Tee-shirts were offered by the United Nations System to all who attended the enriching symposium.
