In her official opening address, the chairman of COWLSO,
Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, First Lady of Lagos state said conference of this year's
tagged: “Unlearn, Learn and Re-learn: 21st Century Women’s T.H.E.M.E.S
Perspectives/Approach”, which hosted more than 3,000 women across the States of
the federation
She said: “As women, we must strategically position ourselves to
take full benefit of the programmes of government. To unlearn means to do away
with habits that are outdated and as well jettison practices that are against
public good and public safety.
“In this 21st Century, women must also embrace new ideas and new
innovations to be relevant. Women must learn to think outside the box and even
go a step further to think without the box, to fit into the modern society.
In his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, who speak at the event said the theme of the conference was aimed at
imparting knowledge that would engender value re-orientation and equip women
with skills that would make them relevant in the State. Sanwo-Olu observed that
continuous learning and capacity building remained a potent tool to drive
social change, stressing that knowledge or mind-set that stood against the
growth of the society must be discarded.
He said: “The goal of this conference is to impart knowledge on
all the participants and equip them with relevant skills. The knowledge that
will enable them contribute effectively to the collective goal of building and
delivering the Lagos we all deserve.
“Imparting knowledge is not only about adding new knowledge,
which is the learning. It is also about reminding ourselves of old and
unchanging truths, which is the re-learning. It is important that we discard
ways of thinking that are no longer compatible with current realities. If
impracticable knowledge is left unchallenged, it can stand in the way of our
ability to imbibe and practise new knowledge. This is the un-learning.”
Sanwo-Olu said his administration had redefined gender balance
in the State with the appointment of 13 women into key decision-making
positions in the cabinet. Empowering women with right skills and given them
opportunity to be part of the decision makers, the Governor said, would set the
State on the course of irreversible growth, economically and socially.
He added that implementation of his government’s six pillars of
development, known as Project T.H.E.M.E.S, would not be effective without the
support of women, citing waste management as one of the key areas where women
would be playing key roles.
In a communique later addressed at the end of the conference.
Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) urged the Federal
Government and indeed all the States of the federation to see the issue of
maternal mortality as a national emergency that must be seriously addressed
with the view to considerably bringing down the high figures while also called
on government at all levels to empower women, saying there was strong need to
invest effectively in maximizing the capacity of women.
According to COWLSO, “Maternal mortality is abysmally
high; the death of a woman is more grievous than the death of a man. Maternal
mortality is taken for granted in Nigeria and this must be seen as a national
emergency. “An empowered and educated woman would raise empowered children, as
a nation we need to invest effectively in maximizing the capacity of women.
“All stakeholders - families, schools, religious bodies,
communities and government must, therefore, play active roles in nurturing the
child to be upright, hardworking, result oriented, focused, organised and have
the fear of God. Moulding a child is a collective responsibility. Every child
should have access to quality education.” While noting that there are limitless
opportunities in entrepreneurship, COWLSO also urged the people to see it as a
vital way out of financial difficulties, just as the Committee admonished
residents to imbibe voluntary compliance to laws, and well-being.
“Government at all levels must continue to partner with the
private sector to develop and implement strategies that will showcase the
nation’s potential in entertainment and tourism to the world.
“Every society must seek to evolve its own legal instrument
through the culture of voluntary compliance to the laws of waste and traffic
management. “Also, well-being is a satisfactory condition of existence and
Wellness is more than being free from illness but a dynamic process of change
and growth,” the Committee said, while equally urging women to strive to be a
total woman, adding: “A total woman is a profitable daughter, an extra ordinary
woman, a celebrated mother and award-winning woman.”
The gala night was superb as performaning stars like Teni and
award winning gospel singer, Tope Alabi who graced the occassion as raffle draw
several prizes including two houses in Lekki with N2.6million naira to any lucky
winner, cars, return tickets to London, Dubai and Ghana, cash rewards, deep
freezers, cooking gas, television, washing machines, exquisite beds, among
others, were won by some of the participants at the conference ended in
grandstlye.
Dignitaries at the event who graced the conference were Wife of
the President, Dr. Aishat Buhari, ably represented by wife of the Vice
President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Ex-Lagos First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Governors of
Kwara sand Ogun states, Mr. Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq and Mr. Dapo Abiodun
include founder of Real Women Foundation, Pastor Nike Adeyemi, who received the
Inspirational Woman Award for her dedicated service to the empowerment of
women. Other honorees are Pastor Siju Iluyomade, Pastor Rosemary Ideh
many others personalities.
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