Umo Eno, Sanwo-Olu champion women’s inclusion for national progress
from right: Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO/First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Akon Eyakenyi; COWLSO Vice Chairman/wife of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (right) during the opening ceremony of the 24th National Women Conference themed: “Soar Beyond Boundaries …Enrich Communities” organised by COWLSO, at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, 10 September 2024.
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
Governors Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and other prominent Nigerians have called for greater inclusion of women in governance to drive impactful development across communities.
Speaking as a guest of honour at the 24th National Women’s Conference organized by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Governor Eno emphasized the importance of involving women in governance to achieve swift and visible progress.
The conference, themed “Soar Beyond Boundaries… Enrich Communities,” focused on empowering women and fostering inclusive leadership.
Represented by his Deputy, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, Governor Eno highlighted the significant role women could play in governance.
“This platform has added more value to the policy of women inclusion and other gender-friendly initiatives. If harnessed properly, women can deploy their full potential to achieve greatness,” Eno said.
He further expressed confidence in the country’s ability to overcome its current challenges, stating, “There is nothing strange about our challenges as a nation; we are just going through a phase that shall soon become history. What matters is the determination to forge ahead and to encourage the right decisions, even when they seem unpalatable at first.”
The host of the conference, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering women and ensuring their inclusion in all spheres of government.
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“We are committed to serving Lagosians better and creating more opportunities for women, youths, and businesses to live up to their full potential in line with our THEMES PLUS developmental agenda,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He also urged continued support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that women should take advantage of the conference to bring positive change to their communities.
In her welcome address, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Lagos State Governor and Chairperson of COWLSO, urged women to be selfless and to push beyond societal boundaries to enrich their communities.
She stressed the vital role women play across sectors and the importance of addressing gender imbalances.
“The objective of this annual conference is to address the various challenges facing women, empowering and supporting them to realize their full potential,” Sanwo-Olu said, noting that women are the bedrock of homes, families, organizations, and communities.
She also highlighted the positive impact COWLSO has had on vulnerable women in the state over the past five years, and its ongoing efforts to foster change and optimism among women.
