LAGOS CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

… Extols The Contribution Of Women To National Development 

 

Lagos State on Thursday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the Year 2018 edition of the Annual Women’s Day and reiterated the commitment of this administration to continually protect and uphold the dignity of women in the State.

 

Governor Ambode, represented by Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya at the event, extolled the contributions of women to nation building and specifically to the development of Lagos, saying “Beyond the traditional role of home keeping as mothers and wives, there is a lot of women can contribute to national development”.

 

“It is an indispensable fact that some progress has been made over the years to recognize and uphold the dignity of women in the country as a result of sustained advocacy by government institutions, and most especially, non-governmental organisations”, he added.

 

Ambode described the theme of the celebration as apt and a reminder that women need to be steadfast and not relent in advocating for positive change and progress in all areas of human endeavour.

 

On her part, the wife of the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode tasked women to challenge stereotypes and rise up to question old established practices that were not women-friendly.

 

“We must nominate and support women for emerging opportunities, whenever they arise. Supporting one another is a duty we owe and must carry out every time for women to move on”, she said.

 

She identified literacy, health, economic empowerment, politics and governance, as areas of noticeable success for women, stressing that they served as an impetus of courage for women to press further for progress.

 

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Mrs. Lola Akande charged men to make a commitment to wage war against domestic violence and all forms of discrimination against women.

 

She expressed optimism that the yearly celebration would propel women to press for progress politically, especially now that the election period is around the corner.

 

“As we approach another election year, we should remember that much of our progress and opportunities as women are determined by those in the corridors of power. This is why we need to increase our involvement in politics and earn our own deserved quota”, the Commissioner stated.

 

Akande, therefore, called on all women to be self-appointed ambassadors in the campaign to restore fully, the dignity and rights of women in Nigeria.