A group of participants at a forum organized by the Voices for Change Programme Nigeria, have expressed concern over the rising cost of marriage and funeral ceremonies in Igboland, calling on stakeholders to take a definite stand on the matter.
Speaking in Enugu at the official presentation of the landmark research report on: “Being a man in Nigeria: Perception and Realities”, the participants identified such economic burden as one of the major reasons behind short lifespan of men.
They noted that such social responsibilities had remained a serious burden on the men in Igbo land, adding that the consequence of the over-bloated pressure on them often amounted to deteriorating health conditions which shortened their lifespan.
The development, according to the participants, had also led to increasing number of widows in the land.
In his remarks, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, Professor Bartho Okolo, stated that some of the unfriendly cultures had really done serious harm to men in the land.
Also speaking, Rev. Fr. Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, of the University of Nigeria, disclosed that recent research findings placed the average lifespan of Nigerian men at 50 years, which according to him is one of the worst in Africa, noting that such phenomenon may be linked to
societal stress on the men.
He however, regretted that some Igbo cultures and traditions had remain static instead of being dynamic, even in a 21st century.
In a speech, the Voice 4 Change team leader, Caroline Enve, in her speech, explained that the programme was aimed at strengthening the enabling environment for the empowerment of adolescent girls and women in Nigeria.
She said the programme was also targeted at those around them, particularly boys, the men, traditional, religious as well as formal and informal institutions.
She further stated that the goal of working with the above mentioned stakeholders and institutions was to facilitate a desired shift in negative and stereotypical attitudes and behaviours towards girls and women, and create an enabling environment for positive gender relations, as well as peaceful co-existence.
Participants were drawn from various sectors, including non-governmental organization, Civil society groups, religious and traditional institutions, among others.
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