Description
This book is a product of a group of very enterprising women who were engineered neither by any traditional feminist radicalism nor the usual equalitarian propaganda. Rather, their patriotic zeal appeared to have been inflamed by their concern for the overall betterment of womanhood. Their patriotic disposition is exemplified in the conference theme and the variegated coverage of issues raised in their respective chapters. The theme of the conference which midwifed this book of readings speaks volume of the chemistry of contemporary feminist thinking the need for more education for the womenfolk in order to empower them. The vexed issue of education for the girl child or woman education is an international concern. The status of the phenomenon of women’s education and empowerment in the developing world as exemplified in Nigeria has assumed alarming proportions in view of the degrading circumstances of female human trafficking in which many women find themselves in many developing countries. As the authors have pointed out in their various chapters, the low status accorded the phenomenon of women’s education and empowerment is accentuated by the patriarchal cultural milieu in many African countries. It will simply be pretentious to assume that these authors have come to an Eldorado in their quest for gender equalitarianism in our socio-economic milieu. There is however no doubt that some milestone has been covered by this effort and that a considerable amount of food has been provided for our thinking. That, in the first instance, is the justification for this publication. No matter the intrinsic shortcomings which may be identified in this book, it is nevertheless a “bold new venture” and an inestimable contribution to National Development by group of patriotic women and it calls for commendation by all and sundry.
