By ESENVOSA IZAH

The fifthedition of the Lagos Women’s Dance kicked off on Saturday, where over 100 women gathered to dance as part of activities to mark the International Women’s Day (IWD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IWD is an annual event marked on March 8; the 2024 theme is “Inspire Inclusion.”

Speaking, the Convener, Lagos Women Dance, Mrs Angela Tony-Iji, said the dance event over the years, had been engaging for women from all works of life.

“It has been five years of stressing out, great friendships, collaboration, ideas, women mingling and not competing.

“It is a sisterhood of love; when one is down, another brings her shoulders to lean on,” she said.

She said the 2024 IWD theme was a call for women to begin to do more, in terms of developing themselves, physically, psychologically, and emotionally to be included in whatever spheres of life.

“Women need to prepare themselves spiritually, technologically, and build capacity to inspire inclusion.

“A number of women have come up to speak, even given business tips and other ideas to help women prepare to be included in whatever area their male counterparts occupy.

“If we do not prepare psychologically, emotionally, physically, how do we get included?.”

Also, an Aerobics and Dance Instructor, Mrs Victory Akingbade, said that women needed to be fit to be included, especially in a male-dominated space.

Akingbade said that it would require a woman to spend time doing what many men did, including networking, exercising regularly, having fun, hanging out, and collaborating.

“One of the things that drives me, is the fact that I like to see women stay fit and healthy.

“I love to make sure that, not just women alone but everybody is staying fit because it is fundamental to healthy living.

“Men know how to enjoy themselves and keep fit but women tend to stay back; inclusion is not all about gender equality now but what men are doing to stay fit and relevant.

“So inclusion simply means everybody has to be one; have a single goal, staying alive and thinking well for themselves in every work of life,” she said.

In her remarks, another Dance Coach, Mrs Hadiza Dahunsi, said the annual dance event was an opportunity to “unwind.”

“Dahunsi said: “I love to have fun because I am restless; I also love dancing, being in good health and when you put these together, it is just to exercise, to get all the frustrations and energy out.

“This programme is also a way of inspiring inclusion; every woman from all works of life come together, bond, and are inspired by other women they get together with.” (NAN)