The Nigerian Women Journalists NAWOJ, Lagos State chapter, has called on governments at all level and private organisations to provide crèche sections for working nursing mothers across the 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital territory, Abuja.
The Lagos NAWOJ made this request during its courtesy visit to the new General Manager of Radio Lagos/Eko F.M, Mrs Funke Moore in her office at Agidingbi, Ikeja, it also bestowed on her the award of Grand Matron of Lagos NAWOJ.
Speaking through its chairperson, Mrs Dupe Olaoye-Osikolu, the association said provision of crèches for working nursing mothers in all work places across the country would boost their productivities.
“If you’re a woman, not only women journalists now, you’re a mother, as well as a wife. Whatever that is good for us, is also good for the working mothers in other organisations in the country. We want provision of crèches in all work places, so that babies will be close to their mothers; and that would even increase the productivities of these nursing mothers.
“We want governments across the country to emulate Lagos State government by increasing maternity leave for working mothers from 3 months to 6 months and 10 days paternity leave for nursing fathers.”
“We agitated for it in Lagos State, and government in Lagos State has already answered our prayers, it has become law in Lagos State to give nursing mother 6 months maternity leave and 10 days paternity leave for fathers”.
While intimating the new general manager, who was once an exco member of Lagos NAWOJ, Olaoye-Osikolu said the association has taken it upon itself to train female journalists in Lagos both locally and internationally, towards improving their productivity and building their capacity on the job.
The women thus called on their host to use her present position to improve the image of NAWOJ in Lagos and in Nigeria as a whole.
In her response, the GM of Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Mrs Funke Moore thanked the association for the great gesture of bestowing on her the award of Grand Matron of Lagos NAWOJ. She also assured of her readiness to offer her support whenever she is called upon.
The Lagos NAWOJ chairperson was accompanied by Kemi Akintilo, the first Lady NAWOJ president in Nigeria from the stable of Lagos NAWOJ and members of Lagos NAWOJ executives.