Akwa Ibom state governor, Umo Eno, his Lagos state counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other well-meaning Nigerians have called for more inclusion of women in governance to drive impactful enriching communities at all levels.
Eno was the Guest of Honour at the opening of the 24th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), held at the Eko Hotels and Suites.
The conference was themed ‘Soar Beyond Boundaries…enrich communities’.
According to Eno, it is expedient to factor women into the process of governance to ensure quick, positive, and visible results.
The governor, represented by deputy governor, Akon Eyakenyi, described the conference as a confluence of cerebral minds that is forging ideas to expand the frontiers of development, especially on the home front.
He said: “This platform has added more value to the policy of women’s inclusion and other gender-friendly initiatives of the government, and I am sure if their effort is well harnessed, women can deploy their full potential to achieve greatness.
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“There is nothing strange about our challenges as a nation, we are just going through a phase which shall soon become history. What matters is the determination to forge ahead and make the right decisions, even when they initially seem unpalatable.
“This conference holds a great promise for Nigeria, and my belief is that with gender equality, we can achieve more for our people, break more glass ceilings, and work towards a more gender-friendly governance.”
The host, Governor Sanwo-Olu, promised that his administration will continue to provide templates that will empower women and make them more relevant in all spheres of government.
Sanwo-Olu maintained that his administration is committed to serving Lagosians better, and will create more opportunities for women, youths and businesses where everyone can live their full potential in line with the THEMES PLUS developmental agenda of the government.
He also solicited continued support for President Bola Tinubu as he steers the country towards a promised land, and admonished participants to take advantage of the conference to make positive changes in their lives as they shape the future of their communities with a sense of hope.
COWLSO Chairman and wife of the governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, urged women to be selfless and push beyond boundaries so they can enrich their communities towards breaking barriers of gender imbalance.
She noted that women make invaluable contributions across various sectors, and their influence is paramount in shaping a progressive and equitable world, ‘so priority must be accorded to their wellbeing’.
“The objective of this annual conference is to frontally address various challenges facing women, empowering and supporting them to become independent while realising their full potentials, especially as women play crucial roles in modern society, serving as the bedrock of homes, families, organizations, and communities,” she added.
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu added that in the last five years, the committee has impacted positively the lives of identified vulnerable persons and still working to engender change and positivism among women in the state.