Arewa Ogangan, Miss Oluwatunmise Akinyele, organised, a Girl-Child Advocacy programme in Ido-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, in commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
Akinyele said the occasion was to celebrate women in Ido-Ekiti, noting that charity begins at home.
She stated that the programme will continue after her tenure as Arewa Ogangan. Her words, “The event is one of its kind and has never happened before.
“We have to celebrate our women and girls because some day they will be out there in the world.I look forward to doing it every year, but it might be the next Arewa Ogangan that will continue this legacy that I have created.”
The dramatic art undergraduate emphasized on the topic she chose for the event – ‘Educate the Girls, Build the Nation’.”I chose the topic because women have always been considered low or inferior”, Akinyele said.
“I feel it is time to break that bias, break that chain, chord and mentality that sees women as inferior. We can be equal.
“I want women to have a voice because I’m a wounded lawyer who ended up being in dramatic art. I still want to make a voice because I know that I can’t do it alone, I want other women to join.”
Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, who was represented at the occasion by his wife, Olori Ngozi Ilori-Faboro, the Eyesorun of Ido-Ekiti, and the Elders-in-Council, partnered Arewa Ogangan on the premise of educating their subjects, especially young girls, in line with the theme of the IWD.
Faboro said, “Akinyele envisaged us celebrating the IWD. We put it thing in motion and we are happy that it’s our inaugural day in Ido-Ekiti.
“The theme for the IWD prompted us to invite our young girls to understand what it is all about, how it affects them and the issues surrounding girl-child”, the monarch said.