….Tinu Olowofela, Oladunni Odu, Sola Sobowale and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde make list..,..
BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
Wife of ondo state governor ,Mrs Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu has again resolved to continue to lead the campaign against every bias and Barrier towards the female gender
Mrs Anyanwu – Akeredolu made this assertion while speaking at the international women’s day celebration organised by her office in collaboration with the state ministry of women affairs and held at the Dome in Akure .
She appealed to women to change the narrative from the home front by properly educating the boychild to see the girl as equal gender with him in their social transactions.
“The girl child is conveniently discriminated against. She is pitied while the boy is pampered. She has to cope with delays, and sometimes, denials, not for lack of requisite mental or physical capability or any fault of hers. Her undoing, as it were, is being a girl.
Where she is ambitious, her dream is either thrown overboard like a jetsam from a ship or constrained to settle for the less. The little girl saw in her mind’s eye a life of worth on the other side of the harrowing tunnels, but the society could not see beyond her commercial value. And when it pleases the father, the girl is married off usually as a juvenile,” She said.
Earlier, in a keynote address, a professor of political science, Adebukola Osunyikanmi had advocated the inclusion of gender equality in the school curriculum to fight the bias against women from the elementary stage of life.
Professor osunyikanmi said this became necessary to make both gender realise the fact to break the barriers and stereotypes against women especially in a patriarchy society like Africa.
She cautioned women against intolerance to one another but charged them to be support system to achieve the desired result of gender equality in the society
According to Osunyikanmi, “women should rise up to break the bias, launch forward to take their rightful position, do not fold your arms and continue to celebrate men but support women and celebrate them”
Earlier the commissioner for women affairs and Social development, Dr (Mrs) Adebunmi Osadahun said the program was aimed at celebrating women and their achievements in the state and beyond.
She commended Ondo state government for various gender friendly programmes to further promote women inclusion for development.
“Let me congratulate all our notable women that would be decorated today for making the history of being listed in the Female Hall of Fame of Ondo State. Your recognition is a price for exceptional hard work and uncommon lmpactful achievements” Osadahun said.
Twenty three eminent women who have excelled in their chosen fields were honoured at the event with the Ondo state Trailblazer Award.
They are First Female Secretary to Ondo state government, SSG, Princess Oladunni Odu, First female General manager of NTA, Akure Mrs Tinu Olowofela and First female Speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, Mrs Jumoke Akindele, former Lawmaker, Hon. Omowunmi Olatunji -Ohwovoriole.
Others are former NLC Chairman in Ondo State, Mrs Bosede Daramola, First female Ondo State Head of Service, Mrs Kosemani Kolawole; Justice Folasade Aguda. notable Nollywood Stars, Sola sobowale, Omotola Jolade- Ekeinde and a medical doctor, Funmi Daudu, Mrs Bukola Abitoye, Ondo female entrepreneurer of the year, Erelu Titilayo Ogunnubi, Ondo state woman of substance, Justice Jumoke Osadebe
In an separate interviews, two of the recipients, Mrs Tinu Olowofela and Dr Daudu thanked the Ondo state government
Highlights of the event included, taekwando display by BEMORE girls, Cultural display and a toast to breaking the barriers against womenfolks.