By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State, Prof. Peace David Irefin, has urged women to combine competence with strong character if they must make meaningful impact in society.
Irefin, a former International President of the BCS Universal Women’s Fellowship, gave the advice while delivering the keynote address at the 3rd edition of the Holy Mother Elizabeth Obu Annual Conference in Calabar, Cross River State.
Speaking on the theme, “Raising Women with Capacity and Character: Manifesting the Virtues of Divine Motherhood,” she said the theme should be regarded as a call to responsibility in a society where women were increasingly assuming leadership roles.
She said raising women with capacity meant equipping them with knowledge, skills, confidence, wisdom and competence to contribute effectively to their families, workplaces and communities.
However, Irefin warned that capacity without character could become dangerous, stressing that education, professional success and influence would not necessarily produce positive transformation without integrity, compassion and responsibility.
She said while capacity answers the question, “What can I do?”, character answers the more important question, “Who am I while doing it?”, adding that society needed successful women whose achievements were anchored on integrity.
The professor said divine motherhood should not be restricted to biological motherhood, but should also involve nurturing, guiding, protecting, inspiring and developing people whose lives women influence.
She challenged women to ask themselves, “Whose life is becoming better because I am in it?”, saying the answer would help determine the quality and value of their influence.
Irefin identified integrity, compassion, wisdom, resilience and humility as essential virtues for women, stressing that women in positions of influence should use their strength to lift others rather than oppress the weak.
She urged accomplished women to mentor younger women, share their knowledge and experience, open doors for others and support those facing difficulties, saying “a woman who lifts another woman does not reduce her own light.”
Irefin also called for stronger intergenerational mentorship, urging older women to regard younger ones as extensions of their legacy and younger women to value the wisdom of previous generations.
She urged women to continually develop themselves, protect their character, nurture others, turn their challenges into wisdom and leave a legacy through the lives they transform, saying society needed women whose success was matched by character, responsibility, compassion and service.
