The All Progressives Congress in Lagos has called on government across levels and relevant stakeholders to improve the condition of women and girls.

APC chairman in Lagos, Cornelius Ojelabi, made the call in a statement on Thursday on the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day.

Mr Ojelabi said the call became imperative as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the day.

“Both the government and the organised private sector should invest in women and children, especially the girl-child, through empowerment. It is by so doing that the nation would be developing itself as well as its human resources,” Mr Ojelabi said.

He said the government and the public needed more attention to gender equality, women and girls’ empowerment, and women’s rights to healthier lives.

The APC chair said this would help accelerate progress at all levels of society.

Mr Ojelabi said that such exposure of women and the girl-child to self-development and self-dependence would reduce the abuse that they faced.

He listed such abuse as sexual and gender-based violence, assault, sexual harassment, and early pregnancy, to mention a few.

“Women should not be subjected to discrimination, harassment, and violence, either at home or in their workplace,” he said.

He condemned alleged instances where women and girls had been turned into baby-making factories by unscrupulous elements in society.

Mr Ojelabi urged the government at all levels to set the necessary machinery in motion for the arrest and prosecution of such culprits to deter others.

He enjoined fathers and husbands to support their wives and daughters continually during their challenging moments.

(NAN)