Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State, has called on wives of government functionaries to come up with innovative ideas to bring more empowerment programs and raise the pedigree of women in the state through the Spouses of Ogun State Government Functionaries Association (SOSGFA).
This call was made by Abiodun in his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, when he received the executive members of the association led by his wife, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun.
He emphasized the importance of the organization coming up with practical ideas and suggestions that would benefit more women.
“Let me call on the association to evolve an improved people’s ideas that would bring more empowerment programmes which would in turn raise the pedigree of the womenfolk. The idea and suggestions expected from you must be practicable”, he said
He explained that his administration intended to increase women’s relevance in the state’s socio-political and economic landscape, thus the need for the association to be the champion of its Oko’wo Empowerment program, which has recently been scaled up.
The governor, who emphasized the importance of the family, charged the association with supplementing the efforts of their spouses by taking on innovative roles in the home.
He also charged them with encouraging their husbands to lead by example at all times, exhibiting qualities such as humanity, transparency, honesty, accountability, and decorum, all of which are characteristics of good leaders.
“You must help your spouses to sustain the development process now in motion in our dear state as we approach the election year. This period calls for more demonstration of love, understanding, perseverance and lots of prayers for all our spouses.
“You must please avert lapses at the home front, most especially when your spouses are away for electioneering campaigns. Though the morale boosting is appreciated, the care of the home front lie in your hands”, he counselled.
Abiodun stated that SOSGFA has been a pillar of support for the government over the last three years, and that many women look up to the members as role models, praising them for exceeding expectations.
He also stated that while the association has accomplished much, it still has a long way to go because its members are active participants in the ongoing collective agenda of building a strong and virile future for the State.
The governor said that his administration had signed an Executive Order granting women 35% of government positions, and that policies had been put in place to protect women and the vulnerable in the state.
Earlier, president of the association and wife of the governor, Mrs. Abiodun, commended the government for its giant stride in all sectors of the state economy, maintaining that the adoption of Nigeria For Women Programme and the Oko’wo Dapo had become a reference for women empowerment in the country.
While enumerating some of the programmes embarked upon by the association, Mrs. Abiodun said a breast cancer screening outreach had been carried out in Ijebu-Ode, commissioning of SOSGFA Centre, empowerment programmes for widows as well as a call for policy to protect the rights of women and children.
Mrs. Abiodun, president of the association and the governor’s wife, had earlier praised the government for its giant strides in all sectors of the state economy, claiming that the adoption of the Nigeria For Women Programme and the Oko’wo Dapo had made the state a reference for women empowerment in the country.
Mrs. Abiodun listed some of the association’s programs, including a breast cancer screening outreach in Ijebu-Ode, the commissioning of the SOSGFA Centre, empowerment programs for widows, and a call for policy to protect the rights of women and children.
