Badagry Local Government, Lagos State through the Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) on Tuesday, 22nd December 2020 held its second Women Symposium titled Women beyond Today, at Badagry Town Hall.
The programme had in attendance the Chairman of Badagry Local Government (BLG), Mr. Olusegun Onilude; his wife, Mrs. Ramotallahi Onilude; the Vice Chairman of BLG, Mr. Gbetogo Akotomeh; Supervisor for WAPA BLG, Mrs. Risikat Padonu-Hassan; the wife of the chairman Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area, Mrs. Iyabo Ashafa; former BLG Executive Secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Kappo among others.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Value for Women: Mentoring to Adulthood’, the guest speaker, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye said, “Women are the best of creations, women are the stronger sex, women are home builders, women are active agents of economic and social change. Women are patient, enduring and should be pampered, cared and loved so as to create a peaceful environment.
“I am a testimony of a girl child who has been well educated, so parents should erase the notion of she will bear someone else name if I send her to school,” she added.
Admonishing women to teach their children to value themselves and stand on their own, Okuneye said, “Value of women is much, as women grow up, they become independent but as men grow up, they become dependent. Women need to be a role model and mentor to younger women.”
In her lecture, another speaker, Mrs. Adebambo Ogunbona the Managing Director of Prisgold Diamond, who lectured on ‘Building Tomorrow Today: Women and Investment, stated that women should not limit themselves, adding that they should control extravagant spending and come up with something that will be of impact to their lives.
“I am the Managing Director of my company, I am also into alaga iduro and ijoko, I am a media person too and I invest. Don’t limit yourself, it is not about age, it is what you have up there. Put your friends together and come up with something impactful,” she added.
Also speaking, the Chairman of BLG, Mr. Olusegun Onilude stated that the role of women in a society cannot be emphasized, noting that he cannot imagine what the world will look like without women.
“Women are tension erasers, the role of women cannot be overemphasized and this is largely because women tend to become more passionate and absorbed in whatever they choose to commit themselves, it is being said that what a man can do, a woman can do better… Maybe I would have preferred to be a woman, he said.
When asked about the level of women participation in politics in Badagry, the chairman said, “In Badagry, women are more involved in politics, but the problem is in occupying political positions, we have more men, but in organizing a program like this, women will be aware and show their interest in political positions.” He added.
Delivering her keynote address, the chairperson of the symposium, Mrs. Ramotallahi Onilude noted that women are very important in the society, stressing that without them the society will go blank.
“Women are the salt of the home. Without women, the society will go blank and become utterly meaningless, this is the extent to which we can weigh the significance of women in the society,” she said.
Also, the Supervisor for WAPA, Badagry Local Government, Mrs. Risikat Abimbola Padonu-Hassan stated that WAPA is celebrating women who have distinguished themselves in the society and charted transformative course for others to follow.
“Today, we are celebrating women who have charted transformative course for others to follow. As we celebrate these distinguished women, others will be inspired to follow their path and others will be an exemplary society. She added.
One of the awardees, Princess Aina Elizabeth Tose stated that she felt honoured when she was given the award because it is a thing of joy. “God will continue to bless and honour the chairman of Badagry local government, I’m excited and I feel honoured. She said
The programme also witnessed the presentation of awards to the wife of a former chairman of BLG, Madam Kiki Whenu Cecilia and seven other women who had contributed to women development in the local government, alongside raffle draw where lucky winners went home with gifts like electric kettle, gas cooker, mattress, microwave, clothes, pots etc.
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