…..Says 6 women LG Chairmen, 16 VCs, 33 councilors unique in Ekiti history
By Editor
As Ekiti State celebrated the international Women’s Day, on Friday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has rated Governor Biodun Oyebanji high in gender inclusion and efforts being devised to dismantle the monster of patriarchy in distribution of political appointments.
Describing his boss’ record as unique in governance, Mrs Afuye said Oyebanji, had carved a niche for himself that will be difficult to surpass, by producing six women Local Government Chairmen, 16 Vice Chairmen and 33 Councilors across various wards in the last year’s Local Government Election.
Mrs Afuye gave the verdict, on Friday, at an event commemorating the 2024 edition of the International Women’s Day, held at the palatial Ekiti Parapo Pavilion along new Ado-Iyin road, Ado Ekiti capital city.
The programme was billed for celebration on March 8, in alignment with global best practices, but was deferred due to the sudden demise of the former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Paul Omotoso last week Tuesday.
Addressing the large number of women across the 16 local governments and Local Council Development Areas that thronged the venue of the event, Mrs Afuye, said the programme was chiefly designed by the global community to ruminate on the progress made in the dislodgement of socio-economic and political challenges confronting women.
Saluting Ekiti First Lady, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, for initiating programmes to empower widows, adolescent girls, orphans, homeless citizens and other deprived categories of women, she assured that the government will continually prioritise the needs of the vulnerable and protect their dignity at all times.
Mrs Afuye commended Governor Oyebanji for fortifying the Gender Based Violence Law, Equal Opportunities Law and Child’s Rights Law, to be able to inject gender equality in all the state’s socio political and economic facets and break the barrier of entrenched male chauvinism and patriarchy in the system.
She said: ” I am glad to inform our women that in the last Local Government Election conducted in Ekiti, six women won election as Council chairpersons in six local governments .
“16 won election as Vice Chairmen, while a total of 33 recorded resounding victories as councilors across various wards, and they had all been sworn in accordingly. This remarkable feat was heartwarming and superbly outstanding in the annals of history”.
As a way of according women the deserved reckoning, Mrs Afuye, said Oyebanji’s administration, had institutionalized well packaged empowerment programmes for widows, homeless children and women, girl child, women traders, and farmers, with trainings and financial empowerments to break the vicious circle of poverty in the system.
In her submission, the Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, promised that his hubby will continually give the women the platform to rise to stardom through access to political and economic freedom.
Mrs Oyebanji stated that the government is currently training about 200 citizens from Ekiti Central Senatorial District to kickstart the first tranch of trainees that will power the proposed Adire Ekiti Hub, saying another 400 will be trained and empowered from Ekiti North and South Senatorial Districts in the subsequent editions.
“The intention is to create employment and economic opportunities for women and establish our own brand of Adire. It will be worn every Friday by all citizens.
“This government is also training our children in poultry farming and other vocations. Help us propagate all these ideals for our people about what Governor Biodun Oyebanji is doing”.
Espousing her views on the theme of the programme: ‘Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment’, the Director General, Civic Orientation and Citizenship, Mrs Olawumi Famuyiwa, appealed to women to guard their homes to reduce the incidences of internet fraud, ritual killings and other nefarious acts being perpetrated by youth.
“Let us tell our children that ill- gotten wealth will only shorten their lives . In combating internet fraud, ritual killings and remove the culture of get -rich -quickly in the minds of our youth, the women must stand in gap by giving their children home training.
“Women can’t be supporting their children while engaging in crimes. We must be very serious and careful about this as people known to be builders of our nation”.
