Saturday 27 / April / 2024
Muscat: Her Highness the Honourable Lady Assayida Ahd Abdullah Hamed Al Busaidi, Spouse of the Sultan of Oman, has addressed a message of greetings on the occasion of Omani Women’s Day, which falls on 17 October every year.
The message reads as follows:
“On the occasion of Omani Women’s Day, the 17th of October, we would like to express thanks and appreciation for every woman who advocates good deeds and elevates the values of tolerance, amity and benevolence. Our greetings go to every woman who contributes to building this dear country from her position as an active participant delivering her social, national and humanitarian duties in all fields and under all normal and unfavourable circumstances undergone by the country.
“I pray to the Almighty Allah to grant every woman in this dear homeland success and efficient participation in building this country and safeguarding its gains and accomplishments.”
Other high-ranking women in government positions in Oman also issued warm messages of encouragement, with State Council member Dr Aisha Al Darmaki saying women are “an essential pillar of national development in Oman. That is why Oman’s Vision 2040 stipulates empowering women socially and economically, within the priority of welfare and social protection.”
Captain Badriya Al Toubi of the Public Relations Department of the Royal Oman Police, said, “Women are inspired, independent, strong, watchful, creative, ambitious, and are leaders. They are dedicated to their motherhood, and build walls for homes filled with tranquility and harmony.”
Women have also played critical roles in the oil and gas industry, according to Ghaliba Al Hinai, who heads the field group overseeing the joint development of isolated energy fields. “They play a number of different roles, be they technical, operational, administrative, or strategic,” she added.
So much importance is given to the role of women that the plans of Oman Vision 2040 do not differentiate between the roles played by men or women, said Dr Adhari Al Zaabi, an assistant professor at the College of Health and Medical Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University.
“It is a call for everyone to unite in order to achieve this vision,” she said. “Women by their nature strengthen social and family ties, not just those at work, since they need a lot of material and moral support in order to motivate them to give more.”
Dr Amna Al Ruhaili, vice president of the Remote Sensing Centre at Sultan Qaboos University, added, “I would like to congratulate the Honourable Lady, and the Omani women who have made an effort to create a society and a promising future for the coming generations.”
Oman has always accorded great importance to the development of women across all fields, added Wadha Al Alawi, the director of the Women’s Affairs Department at the Ministry of Social Development.
“We are considered to be valued human entities,” she said. “His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, may God preserve him, emphasised in his speech the role of Omani women, alongside men, as one of the pillars of national action.”
Dr. Maryam Al Nabhani, director general of Private Universities and Colleges, said in this context: “Omani women have assumed many positions at all levels, especially higher education, scientific research and innovation. They were given the opportunity to be educated, qualified and empowered, so they have accomplished, innovated and achieved many successes that contribute to development.”
“Omani women have been able to prove themselves in all fields of work, including education and vocational training, whether in government colleges or private institutions,” added Dr Maimunah Al Rawahi, the assistant director-general for vocational training.
(With inputs from Oman News Agency)
