First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on African leaders to implement gender-sensitive curriculum to challenge stereotypes and promote equity.
The First Lady made the call at the launch of the #WeAre Equal campaign by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in Angola.
Shestressed the need to use education to combat child and youth violence in Africa, saying that early education plays a pivotal role in shaping attitudes, beliefs and behaviours from an early age.
She called for the inclusion of activities to help dismantle notions of gender-specific roles in teaching.
“When gender equity becomes an integral part of our educational system, there will be a shift in societal attitudes whereby boys and men learn to respect and value women and girls as equals, reducing the likelihood of engaging in violent behaviour,” she said.
The First Lady decried the spate of gender and domestic violence, especially incidents of rape and defilement, stressing that educated and well-informed people of both genders would abstain from such acts.
Also speaking, the President of the Republic of Angola, Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, urged the First Ladies to lend their voices to quell various conflicts around the world as women and children are the worst affected.
He commended OAFLAD for its efforts in giving women an audible voice in ensuring the building of a society where men and women have equal rights and opportunities.
