Ajimobi, others laud women’s role in nation building

OYO State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, has praised Nigerian women for impacting positively on the socio-political and economic development of the country, stating that his administration is women-friendly.

Ajimobi spoke as wife of Osun State governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola described women’s role both at home and in party politics as necessary ingredients for national development.

According to a statement,  Ajimobi while receiving the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina who paid him a courtesy call in his office, also expressed his administration’s commitment to women empowerment in the state.

According to him, women could not be put aside  in the scheme of things in Nigeria as they have contributed in no small way to national development in virtually all aspects of human endeavour.

Ajimobi also acknowledged the contributions of women who are political office holders to the successes so far recorded by his administration.

“I like to state that our women who are political office holders were not just appointed to fulfill the 35 per cent affirmation or to just add to the numbers. Rather, they were brought on board because they were well qualified. And I want to say that they have not disappointed us as they have contributed significantly to the successes so far recorded by our administration,’’ he remarked.

Ajimobi pointed out that his administration would continue to empower women in the state for them to contribute their quota to the development of the state’s economy and that of the country.

He said that his administration’s restoration, transformation and repositioning agenda were borne out of the need to bring the state out from the ruins of the past and reposition it for further development in education, health, environment, infrastructure and wealth creation.

Speaking earlier, the minister called for collaboration between her ministry and the state government in the provision of quality services and enabling environment for the survival, proper development and protection of women, children and other vulnerable groups in the state.

She said that Oyo had been selected as the South-West zonal centre for the second phase of YouWin programme dedicated to young women between the ages of 20 to 45 years, which she said, would be coordinated by the state Ministry of Women Affairs.

Mrs. Aregbesola who was represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Justice Mrs. Folashade Afolabi, while delivering a lecture titled: “Women, Home Front Keeping and Party Politics,” organised by Igbaotun Women Group (IWG) held at the Olorunda local council multi-purpose hall, Igbonna, Osogbo, explained that the roles women play domestically and in public life are crucial to the development of the socio-political process of our nation.

She said the domestic role “is a natural responsibility, while political role is a response to social change in the society.”