35 percent affirmative action: We will sustain women inclusion, fight gender-based violence — Sanwo-Olu
…Says Govt not deterred by sensations around BRT-linked fashion designers’ killing
…Women leaders root for equality, emphasise capacity development
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said his Administration remains resolute to sustain sensitivity to women inclusiveness within the fabrics of decision making in the State, mentioning that the fight against gender-based violence is one the Government would not relax from.
This is just as the Governor has condemned, outrightly, the killing of 22-year-old fashion designer, Ayanwole Oluwabamise, whose murder was allegedly perpetrated using a bus rapid transit (BRT).
Sanwo-Olu who spoke on Tuesday in commemoration of the International Women’s Day in Lagos, said as a progressive state, his Administration recognises with keen attention the need to harness the potentials of women to achieve the great visions of development for the State.
According to him, growth and development would take reasonable course only when the potentials of men and women are synchronised and optimised.
Sanwo-Olu popularly called the “HE for SHE Champion” by Women Campaigners, said the Government has maintained the 35percemt women representation in the State’s Execute Council above other States in the Federation, mentioning that women records the highest in the number of Judges, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Government Agencies and Parastatals in the State.
This, he said, among other various interventions to empower women were indications of the Government’s seriousness to improving the quality of lives of women in the State.
Sanwo-Olu mentioned that the Government is employing deliberate measures to get more money into the hands of women, empowering them for a circle of development, positing that “empowerment to women is empowerment to nation.”
“What we are about in Lagos is to ensure that our women are one of the strongest drivers of the Government. We are happy and we are believing that as it’s happening in Lagos, the narratives is being permeated to other parts of the Country.
“We are ensuring that we can give our women equal opportunities that men also enjoy in all spheres of endeavour,” he said.
…We are not deterred by sensations around BRT-linked fashion designers’ killing
The Governor, who decried the recent killing of the 22-year-old fashion designer, who allegedly was murdered using the BRT bus of the State, said no stone will be left unturned to bring the culprits to justice.
Sanwo-Olu who said investigation were ongoing by relevant security agencies to “fully unravel” all events surrounding the despicable act, lamented that some have continued to resort to sensational postings which are unfounded to unduly attack the Government and his person.
“People trivialise life and make every thing as to score cheap points. Our government will certainly not be deterred with such narratives. What we are ensuring is to transparently get to the root of the matter.
“I personally condemn it. It’s really so unfortunate but some people are being very sensational in postings, saying Lagos State is trying to cover up.
“For whoever is found culpable, the full wrath of the law would be applied to such person,” he said.
“We will not let anything go without ensuring justice prevail”, he said, assuring that the full wrath of the law would be meted to everyone involved in the despicable act with the stiffest applicable law of the land.
Recall that Ayanwole Oluwabamise, a 22-year-old fashion designer, who went missing after reportedly boarding a bus rapid transit (BRT) at Chevron bus stop, Ajah area to Oshodi, Lagos around 7pm on February 26 in Lagos, was later found dead on Carter bridge at Ogogoro
Community, Lagos Island, according to a police report.
Women leaders root for equality, emphasise capacity development
Speaking, Lagos first Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, charged women to awake to building their capacities to compete favourably with the male folks.
On gender equality, she mentioned that the reconsideration of some of the gender equality bills earlier rejected on the floor of the House of Representatives on the 1st of March, 2022 is an omen of hope to drive women’s course.
She maintained that the State has zero tolerance for sexual and gender based violence, mentioning that the government has continued to record long stride in the fight to curtail all forms of bias against women in the State.
She submitted that the status quo of 35percent women representation in the State’s Executive Council be extended to the judiciary, legislative, down to the wards levels at the local government.
In her opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, said prioritising gender equality was sacrosanct to the State government, which, according to her, has informed tailoring activities towards the agenda.
According to her, political and socio-economic barriers that limit the average women have borne the clarion call for gender equality, which the State has come to prioritise.
Lamenting that though all bills carrying demands of women concern presented before the National Assembly were recently rejected, she argued that “without women, no nation.”
Dada said though the national response may be slow to yield the call for inclusiveness and equality for women in the organs of societal fabrics of decision making, she said Lagos reflects a good omen towards the agenda, particularly with the expression given by the present Administration considering the 35percent affirmative action.
Speaking on the Year 2022 International Women’s day Celebration tagged: ‘Gender – Equality today for a Sustainable tomorrow’ #Break-the bias, Dada, said: “Today, we are breaching the frontiers of silence and inaction by challenging every stereotype in the way of gender parity and inclusion.
“Here, at the Center of Excellence, Lagos, Nigeria, we join change makers all over the world in a unanimous alliance to prioritize gender equality and indeed BREAK THE BIAS!
“It simply infers that if we work together, we can all break the bias encountered in our professions, communities and culture as an immediate assignment and beyond.”
According to her, in line with the THEMES Agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration of making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has established 19 Skills Acquisition centres across the State where no fewer than 20 vocations are taught free of charge.
“About 12,914 students have graduated from year 2019 till date, most of who had become employers of labour through the skills acquired and Certificates being awarded which has enabled them proceed for further education in the State. These have gone a long way to reduce unemployment in the State,” she added.
She disclosed that 10,001 Women had been trained and empowered in a 4-Weeks Short – term Skills Acquisition programme from 2019 till date, ranging from various Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
“Graduants at all these centres were given start-up packs to enable them commence their businesses immediately,” she added.
She disclosed that in 2022, the Ministry will be training at least 250 women in each of the 32 Centres across the State on the same programme.
Dada disclosed that through the Micro-Enterprise Support Scheme, a social intervention by the State Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, a total number of 4,885 beneficiaries have been empowered with working tools.
She disclosed that in commemoration of the International Widows day, the Ministry had empowered 3,000 widows from 2019 till date; given Grants-in-Aid to 200 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) as support for their services towards humanity; just as 850 women benefitted from the cassava/vegetable farm cultivation and empowerment for rural women.
Also, were Workshops on Good Parenting, to curb social vices and to educate parents on their roles in curbing sexual violence from their homes.
She urged all “women in Lagos state, Nigeria and all over the world, as we celebrate International Women’s day to avail themselves of various opportunities to become empowered, self-reliant, self-confident, even as we strive to attain Leadership positions across the World.”
All Progressives Congress’ Women Leader, Lagos, Hon. Jumoke Okoya, raised concern over the recent rejection of the gender equality bills, submitting that women do have roles to play in developing capacities to compete effectively within the space of decision making roles.
She mentioned that while the need to have policies and legislations that are gender sensitive was sacrosanct, women, according to her, must become assertive in lobbying as men would do, to have their ways.
She said capacity gaps in education and resources must be closed for women to compete effectively with men, mentioning they must be deliberate to the course to occupy key seats in the fabrics of decision making.
