“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa, Activist
By AdeJesu
Celebration of International Women’s Day has been in existence since the 1900s, stemming from a time of political unrest. It began with 15,000 women marching through New York, demanding voting and workers’ rights, gender equality, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence and abuse of women.
By 2014, it was celebrated in more than 100 countries and had been made an official holiday in more than 25 countries.
This celebration holds its thanks to Clara Zetkin, Kate Duncker, Paula Thiede, and others who proposed the establishment of an annual ‘Women’s Day,’ although a date was not specified. A total of 100 delegates representing 17 Countries agreed with the idea. This gave room for the first celebration on March 19, 1911, although there was not yet a specific date for it. Generally, it was celebrated in late February or Early March. America observed Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February while Russia observed Women’s Day for the first time in 1913, on the last Saturday in February.
In 1975, March 8 was declared a global holiday for women to be celebrated.
The poster for the International women’s Day March in London in 1975 has on it boldly written “Solidarity with women’s struggles all over the world”.
Until 1970, women were irrelevant in History books. However, there exists a countless number of women who have made a great contribution to the world and their bravery has passed the test of time. History cannot forget Queen Amina, Moremi, Ladi Kwali, Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Flora Shaw, Mam Aduni, Isabel Dos Santos (the richest woman in Africa with a net worth of 2.8 billion Dollars), Alice Walton (the richest woman in the world with 6.5 billion dollars), and Queen Elizabeth(who has with her virtue kept the great England standing. Surely, according to Michelle Obama, the former First Lady of the United States, “there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish”. Oh! Endless is the list, even those who are not in the history books.
I celebrate every woman out there, young or old, tall or short, fat or thin, you are wonderful.
And God said, ” It is not good for man to be alone, I will for him make a *help meet* “.
How will this world survive without this great human?
Celebrate every female gender.
Happy International Women’s Day.