University of Calabar Celebrates Maiden International Men’s Day
By Uket Oka, Calabar
The Centre For Gender Development, University of Calabar, has celebrated the 2024 International Men’s Day.
The event which was its maiden edition, held at the Senate Chambers of the University.
Speaking, the Executive Director of the Centre, Dr Brenda Akpan, said the centre was set up in 2020 to carter for the development of both male and female members of the community as well as to recognize and appreciate their sociological and cultural responsibilities.
Akpan stressed that the centre is geared at building positive ideas and knowledge towards the social and academic perspectives of gender as well as balance the mentality of both the old and the young towards the idea of gender equality as a human right.
The Chairman at the occasion and former Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic of the University, Prof. Uche Amalu urged men to always love themselves, work and take rest so that they can live longer and advised that Men also need to be given attention.
In his lecture entitled, “The 21st Century man and the management of stress,” the Guest Lecturer and former Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof Roland Ndoma Egba, stressed the need for men to take care of themselves first by living a healthy life no matter what it takes if they must live long.
Egba explained that, stress could be mental, emotional and even psychological, noting that, “if not properly manage could lead to heart disease.”
Also speaking, a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Angela Oyo Ita also advocated for the creation of the Ministry of Gender Affairs to replace the current Ministry of Women Affairs.
She noted that creating a Ministry of Gender Affairs would bring gender balance.
