The Consul-General of China in Lagos, Ms Yan Yuqing, says it’s crucial for women to enhance their self-esteem, self-confidence, self-love, and independence.
This, she said, is in addition to stakeholders strengthening legislation on gender equality, improving social opinion, and abandoning outdated concepts.
Yuqing made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that Yuqing, appointed in May 2023, is China’s first female consul-general in Nigeria.
According to her, the status of women worldwide is steadily rising, and they are playing more and more significant roles in various fields.
This, she said, is attributable to the continuous development and progress of human society, especially the United Nations’ initiatives and various countries’ national legal protections for women’s rights.
She, however, said achieving full gender equality remained a challenging task.
“Traditional notions of male superiority and female inferiority, the fact that some women bear more family responsibilities and thus, do not have the chance to take on social roles,and the lack of self-confidence among some women contribute to gender inequality.”
Yuqing said she supported and was hopeful that more Nigerian women were becoming outstanding diplomats, adding that she looked forward to their contributions to advancing China-Nigeria friendship.
“My father was an ambassador who dedicated his life to Chinese diplomacy.
“Influenced by him, I aspired to become a diplomat from a young age and through persistent effort, I was admitted to Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
“I finally fulfilled my dream by starting my career at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs after graduation.”
She stressed that it was vital for women to never give up regardless of difficulties being faced.
Yuqing further said as a female consul-general and a mother, enhancing the empowerment of women and youth in Nigeria, and strengthening exchanges between Chinese and Nigerian women and youth remained important responsibilities.
“In 2023, I initiated the charity programme – Renewed Hope, Rebirth from the Light, financing cataract patients in Nigeria.
“To date, it has helped over 20 cataract sufferers from impoverished families regain their eyesight, the majority of whom are youths.
“This initiative is expanding from Lagos to other states and will continue to be upheld,” she said. (NAN)
