Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State governor, has challenged women to be more interested in holding political positions, rather than participating as singers at political rallies.
Akeredolu spoke on Tuesday at the 21st annual national conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State officials (COWLSO), held in Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Awake’, the Ondo governor said women have more important roles to play to contribute to national development.
“There is a need for women to start taking the issue of participating in politics seriously. Your role cannot be just jamboree and singing at political rallies. We must train the girl child in a way that she has a role to play in the future”, Akeredolu said.
“We must do more than what we were doing before. We must stop the obnoxious practice which limit the potential of the girl-child. We must resist the attempt by those who crave perpetual domination.
“You must work on the curriculum of our education. Our women must feel that their gender is free. We must not limit their freedom. I can see women salvaging this country. Being wives of elected or appointed political office holders is not enough. I believe that it is salutary to have spouses who are very supportive of their husbands in many ways”.
He also urged women to look into making meaningful contributions towards tackling insecurity in the country.
“Our country today is at a crossroads. One thing appears missing to me in our conversation here; it is the issue of insecurity in Nigeria,” he stated.
“Insecurity is limiting our national development. Insecurity is the cause of the poverty you are addressing today. With insecurity, governance is zero. We should look at specific ways women can intervene to change the narrative.
“Women are being kidnapped. The first set of mass kidnap in the country are Chibok girls. We are here to change the world. I can assure you as women that you can change the world.”
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, in his remarks, spoke on the importance of women and how they can influence national growth.
“There is nothing we men can do without women beside us. And so the charge before us today is to look at the changes and the emerging realities of our time,” he said.
“I believe the word ‘Awake’ is appropriate and it is meant for our women to be a lot more resilient; to be aware of the environment; to have a new approach to doing things; to ensure that you have a sustainable mindset at everything you find yourselves doing as individuals, as organisations, as corporate entities and so on.
“I think it is important for us to know that working collaboratively as partners with the government, we can achieve a lot together working in unity.”
