Oct. 27, 2021
The Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu says it is no longer acceptable for women’s participation in politics to be limited to singing at rallies.
The governor spoke 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”.
Akeredolu, who was the special guest of honour, noted that history was replete with heroic acts of women, and that no reasonable society would confine women to the background, informing that it is no longer acceptable for women’s participation in politics to be limited to singing at rallies.
“There is a need for women to start taking the issue of participating in politics seriously. Your role cannot be just jamboree and singing at political rallies. We must train the girl child in a way that she has a role to play in the future”, Akeredolu said.
In her opening remarks, COWLSO Chairman and Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, paid glowing tributes to the founding mothers of COWLSO, particularly the late Dame Obafunmilayo Johnson, wife of the first Military Governor of the State, who founded the Committee in 1974 and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who initiated the National Women’s Conference in the year 2000 during the tenure of her husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of the State, as well as her predecessors.
The event was attended by dignitaries including the Wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hajia Salamutu Gbajabiamila; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Governors’ Wives from Ogun, Ekiti, Kwara, Osun, Ondo and Kebbi, among others.
Special inspirational women awards were also presented to Nigeria’s first female Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Muheeba Wonuola Folami; first female Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State and first female Vice Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Mrs. Foluke Abdul-Rasaq; the Iyalode of Lagos, Chief (Mrs.) Bintu Fatima Tinubu and Super Falcons captain, Asisat Oshoala, who was honoured as inspirational youth of the year.
