Wife of the Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and chairperson, Lagos State Council Chairmen’s Wives Association (LASCCWA), Abimbola Odunmbaku, has advocated for women to be given equal opportunity with their male counterparts in leadership roles as well as be empowered economically to be able to contribute their quota to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria in general.
Odunmbaku spoke when she led other women leaders from the council, including the Vice Chairman, Funmilayo Layeni, to join the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, to mark International Women’s Day, IWD, at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos Island.
Others at the occasion were the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, party leaders, the state executive members, women’s society groups, among others.
Abimbola said building a progressive society requires women’s participation, especially in politics, adding that the government should go beyond paying lip service to protecting women’s rights and take bold action to ensure they are secured.
She also stressed that the commemoration of International Women’s Day should inspire meaningful change both in women, government and other institutions rather than symbolic gestures.
She lamented that women are increasingly becoming victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and called on civil society groups and government institutions to ensure women’s dignities are protected.
Mrs Odunmbaku further said that several women have distinguished themselves in leadership roles both locally and internationally and called on Nigerian women to use the occasion of International Women’s Day to re-energise themselves to participate actively in politics.
She noted that empowering women economically would improve their confidence and give them financial independence to be able to build sustainable businesses and contribute to the growth of the nation.
She cited various women empowerment programmes that have been initiated by her husband’s administration in Ojodu LCDA as examples of ways the government can support women’s growth.
“Empowering women economically means you are empowering a nation. When you build a woman financially, you are building a progressive society. Women should not be relegated to the background but be given more roles in government so we can contribute our quota to the development of the nation, “ Abimbola said.
She commended Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for her leadership roles, which she said have served as motivation for other women in the state, and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Cecilia Dada, for several empowerment programmes her ministry has initiated for women.
Others in the entourage of the Ojodu First Lady were the Councillor Ward E, Oluwabukola Ademoyegun, the Ojodu LCDA APC woman leader, Bukky Badmus, and Councillor Ward B, Awolala Esther.
