Aug. 19, 2021

The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called on women to pursue ventures that guarantee their well-being, self-esteem and financial independence.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, who made the call while addressing a gathering of women across Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the State at the Women Assembly for Grassroots Women in Lagos, on Tuesday, added that the State Government is making frantic efforts to ensure the general wellbeing of its citizens, especially the womenfolk. She, therefore, advised women to abstain from lifestyles that could pose a threat to their health.

Her words: “As a receptive Government, it behooves on us to invite our women within the State to embrace processes towards meeting up expectations deserving of our women while also reckoning with protection of their rights within the society”.

She said the forum, organised by the State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), was targeted at women across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the State with a view to enhancing their productivity and economic growth, stressing that the event is focused on achieving the vision of sustainably reducing poverty.

The First Lady placed on record that the first and second phases of the initiative held in the past made significant impact towards alleviating the plight of the women residents, just as it promoted economic empowerment for the beneficiaries.

Dr. Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the unwavering support of Mr. Governor to the cause of women in Lagos State, saying “The Governor has a large number of women in his cabinet and is a champion of gender equality, which are clear testaments to the commitment of his administration to the welfare and progress of women across the State.

“I urge all women to always voice out their challenges and experiences so that necessary measures can be instituted by the government to redress the situation. The fact remains that sustainable development can only be achieved through the involvement of all stakeholders. Therefore, our collective responses will form the basis for subsequent programmes by the Ministry”, the First Lady asserted.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Cecilia Bolaji Dada, revealed that the outcome of last year’s edition of the programme are indicators that women in Lagos care more about their husbands’ and children’s health, with little or no attention to their own personal welfare.

She said: “The feedback from the last forum was very inspiring and remarkable. The reason being that it created an opportunity for our women at all levels, regardless of their status, profession or social standing, to voice out their plights and raise solutions to the issues relating to womanhood”.

Informing that the forum enabled active women participation in policies and programmes of the Ministry, Mrs. Dada emphasised that the Ministry will continue to use the Women Assembly platform to deliberate on issues that affect women and young ladies, including ruminating on issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic as it affects them.

The Commissioner reiterated the commitment of the present administration to continually promote the cause of women, eradicate poverty, and ensure the empowerment and holistic protection for all women and young ladies.