Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State government on Thursday urged women to take advantage of opportunities provided by the government for them to be financially independent through various empowerment and acquisition skill programmes offered.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo,SAN, while speaking during the One-Day symposium organization by the Lagos Ministry of Justice, Public Advice Centre, PAC, in commemoration of PAC Advisory Day, 2021, with the theme “Women as the heart of and soul of the Nation,” held at Ikeja.
Onigbanjo said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has created several opportunities for women to excel in their trade and profession, adding when women are empowered, they would be able to contribute to the development of a nation.
“It is essential to note that our women are also taking advantage of the various programmes offered by the Ministry of Agriculture to those interested in various aspects of farming, crops and fishery. I encourage our womenfolk to spread the message about opportunities being provided by the Lagos State Government to give women financial independence,” he said.
“The ultimate objective of the Sanwo-Olu administration is to offer our women opportunities to make them free from pressure of financial burden. When a woman has economic resources, she will support her husband in taking care of her children and also provide herself daily basic needs. She will live in peace with her neighbours and enjoy a better quality of life.
A happy woman will certainly be willing to champion positive change in her environment. Lagos has provided many opportunities for women to excel at home and in their trade. All women must take advantage of the rare privilege and make life better for themselves and their households,” he added.
Onigbanjo further said the theme of the symposium was timely as a result of several crisis bedeviling the nation which places women and children at the receiving end.
He said most complaints received by the ministry are from women, adding PAC was established to attend to various complaint from the public.
“The theme of this event, “Women as the heart and soul of the nation” is specifically targeted at our women, who usually suffer greater emotional trauma after unfortunate occurrences in their homes and within society.
Women are, undoubtedly, change agents in our environment. So, we are engaging them with the hope that they will embrace harmonious living, be aware of their rights and subsequently influence their male counterparts and associates in a positive way to benefit the whole society.”
Due to the Lagos State Government’s conviction that women must not suffer any disadvantage as the weaker sex, a numseveralblishments have continued to support the cause of the female sex towards seeking justice and empowerment.”
In her speech, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Hon, Mrs Cecilia Mobolaji Dada, who represented by the Director, Finance and Accounts, WAPA. Mrs Mrsrewaju Lawal said women are very critical to the progress of society and should be accorded their place.
“Women play a very vital role as wives, mothers, sisters, teachers and partners in the family, for human progress. Women are very critical to the socio-economic development of every nation. It is the, before, necessary for them to be accorded their rightful place(s) in the scheme of things. Throughout history, the activity of women in the society has ensured the stability, growth and long-long-development of nations,” the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner added the ministry under her watch “has established 19 functional Skills Acquisition Centre across the state, where no fewer than 20 vocations are taught on a short term and long term module,” while “about 8,177 women across three Senatorial Districts had benefited from each economic development drive by Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.”