Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and other well meaning Nigerians have called for the inclusion of women in governance towards driving impactful process of enriching communities at all levels.
The governors and other distinguished personalities made the call while speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the 24th National Women’s Conference, COWLSO held on Tuesday at the Eko Hotels and Suites with the theme: “Soar Beyond Boundaries…enrich communities.”
Speaking as a guest of honour at the event, Governor Eno said that it was expedient to factor women into the process of governance to ensure quick, positive and visible results, noting that the women’s conference was not just an ordinary one but a confluence of cerebral minds that was forging ideas to expand the frontiers of development especially at the home front.
Eno, who was represented by his Deputy, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, further noted that this platform had added more value to the policy of women inclusion and other gender friendly initiatives of the government, assuring that “if their effort is well harnessed women can deploy their full potential to achieve greatness.”
This was just as the governor further assured that the current challenges facing the country was nothing strange and would soon become history, arguing that what “matters is the determination to forge ahead and to encourage them to take the right decisions even when they initially seem unpalatable.”
“This conference holds a great promise for Nigeria and my belief is that with gender equality, we can achieve more for our people, break more glass ceilings and work towards a more gender friendly governance,” he said.
The host Governor, Mr Sanwo-Olu, promised that his administration would continue to provide templates that would empower women and make them more relevant in all spheres of government.
The governor assured of his administration’s commitment to serve Lagosians better, maintaining that it would create more opportunities for women, youths and businesses where everyone can live their full potential in line with the THEMES PLUS developmental agenda of the government.
Sanwo-Olu, who solicited for continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he steers the nation towards a promised land, charged the participants to take advantage of the conference to make positive change in their lives as they shape the future of their communities with a sense of hope and engagements.
Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in her welcome address, urged women to be selfless and push beyond boundaries to enrich the communities they belonged towards breaking barriers on gender imbalance in the society.
She said that women made invaluable contributions across various sectors, describing their influence as paramount in shaping a progressive and equitable world and, therefore, the need to accord priority to their wellbeing.
“The objective of this annual conference is to frontally address various challenges facing women, empowering and supporting them to become independent while realizing their full potentials especially as women play crucial roles in modern society, serving as bedrock of homes, families, organisations and communities,” the Lagos First Lady said.
On the achievements of the Committee, Sanwo-Olu said it had, in the last five years, impacted positively in the life of the identified vulnerable and was still working to engender change and positivism among women in the state.
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