Mr Olusegun Onilude, Chairman, Badagry Local Government area of Lagos State, on Tuesday pledged his administration’s support for the development of women.
Onilude made the pledge at the 2nd Badagry Women Symposium 2020 organised by the council’s Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the symposium was: “Women; Beyond Today”.
Onilude said he would continue to support women and empower them within the available resources under his care.
He said the concept of the nation’s building was not limited to the Federal Government, adding that the building of a nation must and should begin from the grassroots.
“Hence, we will reward and celebrate whoever makes efforts to contribute to the development at this level of governance.
“But today, the focus is on those women who have made us proud; those women who have made colossal contributions to our party and those who stood for progress,” the chairman said.
Onilude said the role of women, based on the theme, could not be overemphasised, adding that this was largely because women tend to become more passionate and absorbed in their commitments.
“It is being said that whatever a man can do, a woman can do better. This is of course very possible, because of the dynamic of the 21st century.
“Women are mothers, they mother and mould from the home and to the society at large,” he said.
Also, Prof. Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, the Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, as the guest speaker, said “women are the best creation and highly favoured by nature”.
Lafiaji-Okuneye said women were more resilient, patient and persevering, adding that they were were active agents of economic and social change.
“Most women receive less formal education, have fewer opportunities to work outside the household and when they do, they are often paid less and treated worse than men.
“Most women live with norms that definitely, their primarily role as wives and mothers, confined to the domestic sphere, where men do less than their fair share of household chores.
“However, women are more important and perform various roles in the household,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Ramotallahi Onilude, wife of the council chairman, said in spite of COVID-19 pandemic experience, it was a thing of joy that women could still come together for the event.
Onilude described women as the salt of the home, adding that without women, the society would go blank and become meaningless.
Mr Olusegun Onilude, the Chairman, Badagry Local Government area of Lagos State, with his wife, Mrs Ramotallahi Onilude and Mrs Risikat Podonu-Hasan, Supervisor for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation at the event.
Commenting, Mrs Risikat Padonu-Hassan, the Supervisor, WAPA in the council, said the local government was celebrating women who had charted transformative course for others to follow.
“Today, we, under the leadership of the chairman, had worked tirelessly without an iota of bias to see that women who have made impact in our social, political and economic spheres will not remain unsung heroes.
“As we celebrate these distinguished women, others will be inspired to follow their paths and our will be an exemplary society,” she said.
NAN reports that many illustrious women who have contributed to the development of Badagry communities received different awards at the event.NAN also reports that different items such as motorcycles, television set, standing fans, gas cookers, cylinders, and assorted clothes, were given at a raffle draw to many women at the symposium. (NAN)