…Decorates Over 20 Eminent Women in the State with Female Trail Blazers Awards
The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Chief (Arabinrin) Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu has vowed that she will continue to lead the campaign against biases and barriers towards the female gender
Mrs Anyanwu – Akeredolu spoke at the International Women’s Day Celebration organised by the her office and the State Ministry Of Women Affairs and Social Development at the Dome Event Centre in Akure.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu charged women across social, religious and political lines to unite in defence of womanhood. “We all have roles to play in making sure that the status of women is improved at all fronts. We must also not loose sight of the need to strengthen the weak among us and the need to fortify the malleable ones with competent compass as they navigate the murky socio-political terrain.
“It is so described because we live in a society where success is virtually synonymous with manhood. And let me warn that it may be, in the fullness of time, if prompt care is not taken.
“Ours is an environment where women are rarely recognised, let alone celebrated, not even when she makes equal exploits as the male counterpart. This reality has motivated us towards identifying deserving heroes amongst us and placing them on the global page for the world to acknowledge.
“This forms the hub of this gathering. I congratulate you, therefore, esteemed women, for not just witnessing another International Women’s Day but for also partaking in this epochal event that is organised to celebrate our heroes.
“This event holds a special significance for me. I speak of a significance whose profundity particularly resonates with me as I stand on this tribune. Growing up in a setting encircled by age-long cultural and societal biases against the girl child is not an experience one would like to reminisce about.
“It invokes a mental picture of that frail girl in a typical Nigerian village who tottered under the weight of scorching primitive prejudices and cultural constraints, who desired to succeed but her rights to success were subjected to sexism.
“The girl child is conveniently discriminated against. She is pitied while the boy is pampered. She has to cope with delays, and sometimes, denials, not for lack of requisite mental or physical capability or any fault of hers. Her undoing, as it were, is being a girl.
“Where she is ambitious, her dream is either thrown overboard like a jetsam from a ship or constrained to settle for the less. The little girl saw in her mind’s eye a life of worth on the other side of the harrowing tunnels, but the society could not see beyond her commercial value. And when it pleases the father, the girl is married off usually as a juvenile,” Mrs Akeredolu said.
Also speaking, the chairperson of the Ondo state IWD 2022 Working Committee who is also the Commissioner For Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr (Mrs) Adebunmi Osadahun stated that the purpose of the Women’s day is to celebrate and uphold women’s achievement, recognize gender challenges and focus greater attention on women and girls issues.
She commended the governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) for all his concern and care for women and children in Ondo State, for being gender sensitive and for the opportunity given to women to serve in key positions, such as the first SSG, Female Commissioners, Chairmen and Councillors at Local Governments, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Board Members, Accountant-General and many others.
“I also appreciate the Governor on the ways he cares about the security of our lives and properties through the Amotekun outfit, because women and children are often at the negative receiving end of crises. Mr, Governor’s Redeemed Agenda has positively impacted on the lives of the women and average girl child of Ondo state through capacity building and novel building”, she said
The keynote speaker, Prof. Mrs Adebukola Osunyikanmi, while congratulating the women advised them to rise up to break the bias, launch forward to take their rightful position, should not fold their arms and continue to celebrate men but support women and celebrate them.
She stressed that women can break the bias by educating the less privileged in the society, give women a capacity building that will last them till eternity.
Osunyikanmi also advised women to train their boy child on do house chores, raise them not to molest girls and train their girl child that women deserve better and that they are not creatures to be oppressed by men.
Over 20 Eminent Women in the state were decorated with female trail blazers awards in the state among whom are two notable actresses, Sola Sobowale and Omotola Jolade- Ekeinde.
Other awardees includes; Mrs Tinu Olowofela, the first female General manager of Nigerian Television Authority, the first female Speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Akindele; Mrs Funmilayo Williams, Mrs Bukola Abitoye, Ondo female entrepreneurer of the year, Erelu Titilayo Ogunnubi, Ondo state woman of substance, Justice Jumoke Osadebe, among many others.
Also, the First Female Secretary to Ondo state government, SSG, Princess Oladunni Odu; a former State Lawmaker, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji -Ohwovoriole; Comrade Bosede Daramola (former NLC Chairman in Ondo State); First female Ondo State Head of Service, Mrs Kosemani Kolawole; Justice Folasade Aguda were celebrated among the awardees at the event.
One of the awardees, Mrs Tinu Olowofela while expressing her happiness thanked the First lady for the honour.
She encouraged other women to impact positively on the lives of womenfolk. “When you are growing, bring up people so that when you leave, there won’t be noticeable vacuum”.
