Osun first lady charges Nigerian women to be pillars of national development

By Richard Akintade, Osogbo

Women in Nigeria have been charged to be alive to their responsibilities most especially at these crucial periods of the emerging realities of the 21st century which require them to be more resilient to be aware of their responsibilities as pillars of national development.

Osun State governor’s wife, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola stated this in Lagos while leading wives of the governors in the South West to the 21st annual National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials which held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suite, Lagos.

The theme of the conference was “Women Awake”.
The conference drew delegates from different walks of life.

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Mrs Oyetola in her capacity as the chairperson, wives of Southern Governors Forum led the first ladies of Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara and Ondo states including the first lady of Kebbi state who also attended.

Speaking at the conference, the governor of Ondo state and guest speaker, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN ) challenged women in Nigeria to start taking the issue of participation in political activities seriously.

Governor Akeredolu bemoaned the age old disposition of womens’ role in politics as mere jamboree of singing and clapping at political rallies and other political engagements.

The conference was an opportunity for the governor of Ondo state to also remind women that the history of Nigeria is replete with heroic deeds of women who in the past and even at the moment have continued to be strong voices in political and non-political activities.

Akeredolu therefore called for a reawakening of such consciousness so that Nigerian women will join their male counterparts to continue to play strong leadership roles not only in Nigeria but Africa.

Earlier, the wife of the President, Hajia Aishat Buhari, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Women Affairs to the President, Dr. Rukayyat Gurin, while declaring the conference open, implored women in Nigeria to use their God given roles as pillars of their various homes and the society at large for the benefits of Nigeria.

Also in her opening remarks, the chairperson of the 21st Annual Women conference and the wife of Lagos State governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwoolu described the conference as far beyond being a mere talk show but properly planned to provide recommendations that will be actionable which in turn will translate to significant improvements in the society.

One of the highlights of the 2021 Annual National Women’s Conference which held in Lagos state featured the presentation of inspirational awards to some women who have made remarkable landmarks in their chosen fields of specialisation over the years. One of them was the Super Falcons Captain, Asisat Oshoala who smiled home with the Inspirational youth award of the year 2021 during a dinner put in place to end the 2021 women conference in the Centre of Excellence, Lagos.