..says BeMore turns Ondo girls to Army of Technology
The Secretary to Ondo State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, has stated that nature has bestowed on womanhood an indispensable role, despite diverse restriction and stigmatization that portray woman as traditional homemakers whose potentials are limited and unrealizable.
Princess Odu made this known at the Women’s Empowerment Seminar Organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender and Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency in Akure.
She noted that despite the restriction, notable influential women like Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Folorunsho Alakija, Flora Nwapa, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Margaret Ekpo, Folake Solanke, Dora Akunyili and Mo Abudu have continued to break the glass ceiling and that their achievements are insignia to what women can achieve, irrespective of divergent obstacles.
According to her, women in all sectors of the nation, through their advice, have influenced powerful policy makers for the betterment and overall development of the society which had in turn bring about stability, development, improved livelihood and better ways of life.
Quoting her, ” Mr Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in recognition of the pivotal role played by women in our society has not relented in supporting Ondo State Women in all their undertaking… Mr. Governor understands the value and worth of women and therefore upholds equity and fairness in his dealings with the feminine gender”
” To a larger extent, Mr Governor is trying to implement the provisions of the 1995 Beijing Conference which among other things canvassed for advancement of women equality with men in law and in practice” she added.
Odu stated that women must collectively work to rejuvenate the dignity and hope of the women folk, adding that women renewing their dignity and exhibiting their core values are in tandem with the theme of the programme.
The SSG also stated that, the theme of the programme – I AM CHANGE, is a clarion call on all women to be awake and make meaningful impact in the society, adding that women must serve as a symbol of honesty, objectivity , hardwork, diligence and love.
” An example of the complimentary role of women in the society is what we currently experience in Ondo State , the Wife of our Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyawu – Akeredolu, Ada Owere 1, is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring women benefit from the gains of good governance….We have the home-grown BEMORE initiative responsible for discovering and developing talents in our girl- child”, she said.
” BEMORE has trained over 4000 girls and turned them to an army of technology. Our girls have been trained in other arts like shoe- making, jewelries, ICT, solar power and many more. Even Fowoso has continually empower over 4000 women. Our SOLAYO programme specially designed for expectant mothers is also novel and unique”, she further stated.
Princess Odu explained that the huge domestic responsibilities before women do not deter them from providing energetic support and Commitment to the society which they belong as well as contributing meaningful to the socio- economic and political development of the nation and Ondo State in particular.
Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor on Gender, Honourable Olamide Falana opined that there is the need to prove to the Policy makers in Nigeria that women have all it takes to show their potentials in all sphere of human endeavour or sectors of the economy.
She said women actually need set of skills to exhibit their potentials in order to fill the space needed to be filled by women in the society and that the seminar is the first in the series of programmes lined up to actually train women to learn how to be effectively be the change and also lead the change.
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