LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has charged women to break free from religious and cultural barriers which debar them from attaining greatness.
Governor Sule gave the charge at the closing of the 24th National Women’s Conference organsied by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO). The conference was themed ‘Soar Beyond Boundaries…enrich communities’.
Sule, represented by his Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Aisha Rufai-Ibrahim, described the conference as depicting the collective commitment to foster regional integration, and a way to complement efforts of the Lagos State government to fast track development and improve the wellbeing of Lagosians.
According to him, the conference’s theme was also apt in view of the prevailing challenging social and economic conditions.
He said: “It is pertinent to state that women constitute significant segments of our population, and perform a unique and indispensable role in ensuring the growth and development of our society. The reproduction, survival and continuity of the human race rests solely on women who have increasingly exhibited remarkable capacity and resilience in social, economic and political transformation, agricultural production, food processing and particularly of the wellbeing of their family and the society at large.
“Regrettably, negative cultural and religious considerations have over the years affected our gender, resulting in avoidable discrimination against women which has become apparent in all spheres of social living. This situation often creates inadequate access to opportunities for women to develop their innate ability and potential in order to contribute to the economic growth of the society.
“Similarly, women have, over the years, proven to be catalysts of progressive change, not only within the conventional corridors of powers and governance, but across all other human endeavours.”
Governor Sule said the conference will serve as impetus to allow women be abreast of the policies and programmes at various levels of government, and provide the needed opportunities to offer constructive advice, feedback, support, contributions to facilitate good governance in the interest of the citizens.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu charged women to take their rightful positions in the society, be creative and more productive to provide for themselves towards growing the economy and better the lots of the families.
According to him, Lagos is using the umbrella of COWLSO to train and retrain the women, and continue to provide a platform for the women’s voices to be heard.
He added: “You can feel the excitement in my voice and see it on my face. I know you are the real reason why governance is exciting. As women, we believe you are in a position of leadership and you cannot stay at the back. The minimum we expect you to stay is by our side, you cannot take a back seat, it is not acceptable.
“And so we are in this leadership position together, and the moment you can assure yourself that you can do it, we know that you can multitask at all time. The skills are with you there, so go out and soar beyond the boundaries and soar higher, so that when next you come for this conference, you will come with renewed hope, vigour, skills and thoughts to say that last year at COWLSO, I have improved.
“You must be able to learn a skill, have a trade; there must be something that you can do differently as a woman. There must be one knowledge, innovation and idea that you must continue to birth every time, and that is what conferences like this will help you to put up those thoughts and reshape your thinking capacity.
“COWLSO has over the years been the sounding board that the government has continued to lend our support to. Year on year, COWLSO challenges us even in strategic development areas, we have seen them transform schools, renovate primary health institutions, help learning the environment in our schools, build old people’s homes, and pass on training development. We want to thank them for their support; these are what we in government are meant to do.
“Learning is a lifelong process and we cannot but continue to learn. We will continue to ensure that you are adaptable and receptive to the needs of your family, community and the society.”
In her closing remarks, COWLSO Chairman and the governor’s wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, urged women to come into the political space and be decision makers to further strengthen their status in the society.
She maintained that it is imperative for women to desist from exhibiting affluence but ensure they give back to their communities, and ensure that the focus of COWLSO, which harped on how to impact lives, remain relevant and effective in addressing the evolving needs.
“Let us carry home this lesson, embrace modesty, prioritise your needs over wants lead by example in your community, practice prudency in spending, mentor next generation, instill in your children the values of hard work, resourcefulness and sustainability,” she added.
