2024 IWD:  We Need More Women Inclusion In Governance For Better Society – Concerned Stakeholders

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

Concerned Stakeholders at the weekend, advocated more women inclusion in governance, towards achieving a better society for all and sundry.

The Concerned Stakeholders made the call at an event themed, “Inspire Inclusion”, organized by APIN Public Initiative to commemorate International Women’s Day 2024 held at APIN Office, Bodija Ibadan.

According to the stakeholders,  women’s contributions to the growth and development of a society cannot be overemphasized, adding, “If you train a woman, you’ve trained a nation”.

The Gender Lead for APIN Public Health Initiative, Mrs Ola Thomas while speaking with journalists at the event, disclosed that the 

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day set aside worldwide for people, community, nations to garner support for the cause of women and that the event was organized to critically look into many areas where there is need to raise voice for women support.

” Today we are focusing on women equity, and making sure that women are involved, women are included where decisions are being made, women are not exempted from where the decisions that concerned their lives are being made. So today we talked about everything that has to do with women, we discussed everything about their reproductive health, about empowerment of women, about self development of women”, she said.

Mrs Thomas added, “So, it’s all about creating more awareness and sensitize people and at least use the day to focus on the cause of women, and a lot of things that concerns about women’s growth and development as related to our society at large.” 

On the theme of the event, “Inspire Inclusion”, Mrs Thomas said, “to inspire Inclusion, education is very important, to me I refer to education as the key to other aspects of our lives, if you’re educated you get more knowledge, you will be well informed ahead of others, know more than you supposed to know, and also to pursue a fruitful carrier.

“To start with education, women also need enough knowledge to trade in today’s business world, so education is key, so when we are talking about inclusion like I said earlier, the decisions that concern nations, the decision that concerns families, decisions that concerns people, women should not be exempted, knowing fully well that women play crucial roles in home building, nation development and building the lives of the young ones.

“Our adolescents and young people, our children are under the care of our women, and whatever they train them is what we will have in our society, and that’s why this says that if you train a woman you’ve trained a nation, so if women are included where they’re making decisions the society will be a better place for everyone of us.”

Oyo State Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo,  represented by a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Justice Mrs Ademola Salami, said Gov Seyi Makinde priorities women inclusion in governance, saying, the Governor is found of saying that inclusion of women in all spheres of life is very important for the development of the society. 

“Women is not only about equality, our inclusion in all spheres of life such as economic and political spheres of life Is for the progress of the society, anywhere we don’t have a women there will definitely be some lapses, so inclusion of women is highly important”, he said 

The commissioner added, “My message to women generally is availability, we should always make ourselves available, we should be ready and be willing whenever we’re called upon, women should always prepare for  opportunity to serve, they should be ready whenever they’re called upon, women we should try and support themselves, women are number one enemy of themselves in this society and it’s so sad, we should start supporting ourselves by giving a voice, if we see our fellow women doing great things we should always try to support them.” Aikomo said.

Oyo State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) Augustine Padonu said, “It’s time we need to make ourselves available for opportunities that will brings endless opportunities on our ways.

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