The Hopewell Initiative for National Development (HIND), a non-governmental organization, has urged Nigerian women to actively contribute to building a resilient society and ensuring societal sustainability. This call was made during a seminar held in Lagos on Sunday.
Dr. Saheed Timehin, the lead speaker at the fifth edition of the Biennial Nigeria Muslim Women Seminar, which focused on the theme “Leveraging the Impact of Virtuous Women for Economic Stability in Nigeria,” emphasized the crucial role women play as shapers of destiny.
He urged them not to shy away from their responsibility in raising well-rounded individuals.
In addressing the seminar’s theme, Dr. Timehin argued that Nigeria’s challenges of poverty and insecurity are largely self-inflicted.
He commended HIND’s founder, Hajia Biliquees Aiyepola, for instilling strong and purposeful values in women. He also stated that addressing the nation’s socio-economic issues requires bold and decisive action.
Timehin encouraged Muslim women to consistently embody virtuous qualities and to create successful, nurturing homes.
According to Dr. Timehin a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), women as homemakers need to play a lead role in ensuring the well-rounded development of the children in their formative years, adding that it will later translate into a better society for all.
“The society gives back in multiple folds, whatever we give to it, we as Nigerians, especially in the Southwest, need not experience poverty and insecurity, if we have not jettisoned our agelong values of hard work and dignity in labour.
“As women, you are the real moulders of our world, the children pick up values for life either good or bad from you and these go a long way to determine who they become in the future. So, we need to guide it jealously.”
Nurudeen Baale, who chaired the event, and the chairperson Alhaja Aminat Olusi wife to the Lagos Island local government executive chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, jointly harped on the importance of women and the need for them to take an active part in politics, to help rejig the economy of the nation right from their homes.
Engineer Baale stressed the fact that Muslim women are yet to maximize the various opportunities availed by the state government.
“Take advantage of the available loans and grants given by the state government, Muslim Women are lagging behind in leveraging on the programs rolled out by the government, and Christians are benefitting more than us.
Describing the forum as an eye-opening session for women across the divide owing to the hands-on techniques and networking opportunities afforded, Engineer Baale tasked them to make good use of it.
Alhaja Olusi in a chat with newsmen echoed the importance of being self-reliant, leveraging on the low-hanging fruits of opportunities that women can use to scale up their micro-economy.
She cited her own experience in rabbit rearing, a home front Agric business, she started with two rabbits but is now a proud farmer of eighteen healthy rabbits.
The Lagos state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Hon. Bolaji Roberts, cited the goodness of ensuring women’s economic growth, he added that a deliberate empowerment of women will translate to a better society.
Hon. Dada who was represented by Olusegun Moruff was quick to cite the accruable benefits that are available for women in the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu government while urging them to use the opportunities wisely.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Bolaji Dada was also represented at the forum.
Earlier in her welcome address HIND Founder Hajia Biliquees Aiyepola, stated that one of the set goals of the organization is to reach 10,000 women by the year 2026, through the facilitation of HIND’s movement across the 57 LGAs and LCDAs of the state by the appropriate ministries as well as the establishment of skill acquisition centre for girls and women.
According to her, this will enable them to learn useful skills.
Alhaja Muslimat Oladejo in her goodwill message tasks women to latch on to the opportunities availed at the seminar. While citing the importance of virtuous women in every home.
She emphasized the need for the parents to carry their wards along in daily godly routines like observation of prayer time and ensuring they comport themselves well in society.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Deputy Commander Narcotics (DCR) Mrs. Chinyerem Eziaghighala in her presentation on drug and substance abuse, urged women to be deliberate about discouraging their wards from indiscriminate use of drugs.
She counselled women not to ignore the red flags of substance abuse; while exposing them to the new trend of unwholesome mixture of substance and the dire consequences it attracts for those consuming it.
Prince Shuaib Abubakar of FATE Foundation an Agric Business Trainer one of the resource persons at the seminar, harped on the importance of homestead farming and encouraged participants to farm in their backyards.
He urged them to adopt new techniques of planting in sacks and plastic containers while adding that the availability of land must not hamper the women from farming.
“Nigerians ought not to be a part of those that will protest on food shortage and hunger, especially in the southwest, we have vast arable lands, and yet we do nothing here. In Mile 12 market farm produce sale per day worth 25bn naira and 95 percent of it comes from the north.
“The good use of our arable lands, ensured our food security in times past.
“Back in the days our women took active parts in agriculture and this is still evident in other parts of Africa, but nowadays our craving for white-collar jobs is making us subservient to those who did not abandon the act of cultivation.
Alhaji Azeez Olawale Azeez Regional Business Executive of The Alternative Bank, Lagos was also on hand to give some tips about the technical knowhow of finance and the uniqueness of Islamic banking, which emphasizes interest-free loans and involvement in businesses that are devoid of fraudulent tendencies and drivers of social vices.