Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State have called on women to assume their role in nation building.
The governors made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at the opening ceremony of the 21st Annual National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), with the theme: ”Awake”.
They said that women must be accorded their rightful recognition in the scheme of affairs.
Sanwo-Olu said that men could do virtually nothing without women, and it was important for women to be awake and alive to their responsibilities, especially in the emerging realities of the 21st century.
He said that in line with the theme of the conference, ”Awake”, women should be a lot more resilient and aware of their environment.
According to him, women should have a new approach to doing things; have sustainable mindset at everything they find themselves doing as individuals, organisations and corporate entities.
”Awake is a clarion call to the 21st century woman to become fully alert to her responsibilities as a pillar, enabler, and catalyst within the family, workplace, civic space and the larger society.
”It is a rallying cry to women, young and old, to be bold, assertive and fearless in the quest for a truly just, equitable and inclusive society.
”In a world where the needs and perspectives of women are often pushed to the back and where violence of all kinds is routinely deployed against them, the need for such a forceful wake-up call can never be over-emphasised,” he said.
The governor said that the policy direction of his administration focused on empowering women and the women had contributed toward actualisation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
On his part, Akeredolu said that no reasonable society would confine women to the background, adding that it was no longer acceptable for women’s participation in politics to be limited to singing at rallies.
He said that women had the ability to rescue Nigeria from its quagmire if allowed to take charge.
According to him, the men have failed the system and it was high time women took the lead.
”There is a need for women to start taking the issue of participating in politics seriously.
”Your role cannot be just jamboree – singing at political rallies. We must train the girl-child in a way that she has a role to play in future,” Akeredolu said.
In her address, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, commended the COWLSO initiative and called on other wives of governors across the country to embrace it, with a view to empowering women and girls.
Buhari, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs and Administration, Dr Rukayyatu Gurin, urged women to use their roles for the greater benefit of society.
”Lagos has set the pace for women. This conference demonstrates how powerful Lagos women have been in supporting their husbands. This conference will positively impact women in Lagos and Nigeria in general.
”I will encourage our husbands to support their wives to collectively achieve greater heights,” she said.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, COWLSO Chairman, urged women to be firm and contribute positively to nation’s building.
”It is time to assert ourselves and contribute positively to our society. Don’t be laid back. No matter where you find yourselves, always remember that you have something to bring to the table.
”We all have a role to play whether you are a grandma, a career woman, house wife, entrepreneur, student or farmer,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The event was attended by dignitaries including; wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajia Salamutu Gbajabiamila; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and governors’ wives from Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Osun, Ondo and Kebbi.
Special inspirational women awards were also presented to Nigeria’s first female Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Muheebi Folami; first female Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State and first female Vice Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Mrs Foluke Abdul-Rasaq.
Also, awards were presented to the Iyalode of Lagos, Mrs Bintu Fatima Tinubu, and Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala, who was honoured as inspirational youth of the year.
COWLSO was founded in 1974 by late Dame Obafunmilayo Johnson, wife of the late Brig.Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, the first Military Governor of Lagos State. It was revived by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu in 1999, when she was the First Lady of Lagos State.
(NAN)