…..As 5th FOWOSO Summit Ends In Akure…..
BY OLUWATOSIN IGHOTEGUONO
The Wife of Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has reaffirmed her call on women to hold strategic positions to create avenues for sustainable development.
She stated this during the grand finale of the 5th Summit of the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO) which had as its theme “Living a Life of purpose” held at the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Arcade, Igbatoro Akure.
The FOWOSO grand finale kick started with parade where various women groups from the 18 local government areas participated and some of them displayed wares, trade and food items peculiar to their council areas.
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Appreciated those who had been supporting her projects in one way or the other, saying government would not relent in its efforts to support women in the state.
The wife of the governor explained that all her projects had opened ways for girls and women in the state, making them self-reliant.
‘So, we are doing our best in this administration to kick out poverty from the face of the women in the state,” she said.
Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu charged women to brace up to enable them face challenges and be willing to take responsibility.
She noted that the summit was to make women realised the need for them to be self reliant to enable them cope with the current economic downturn.
The Chairman of the 5th FOWOSO summit Mrs Toyin Adegbenro expressed confidence that women can successfully attain heights, hold leadership positions and also be able to cater for their families.
Mr Ayodele Olawande, Minister of State for Youth, who was represented by Mr Owoeye Omolayo, appreciated the wife of Ondo State Governor for impacting women positively.
Mr Olawande said Mrs Anyawu-Akeredolu had raised women from the level of poverty to prosperity across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The minister also opined that people, especially youths, should support the present administration for more dividend of democracy.
In their goodwill messages a former commissioner for women affairs, Mrs Omowunmi Ohwovoriole among other dignitaries described women as the architect of greater tomorrow and lauded the initiative of the governor’s wife.
Mrs Ayedun Abolaji, an 87 year-old woman from Isua Local Government Area of the state, was presented with a bag of rice as best dancer to commemorate the fifth FOWOSO summit.
The event came to a climax with Raffle draw, couples dress up competition and dance competition where winners were presented with gifts.
Five people each won 10kg of rice, table gas; dryers; sewing machines; television sets; and grinding machines, while one person each won generating set, refrigerator and deep freezer.
One of the beneficiaries of the raffle draw, a Corps Member, serving with the Ondo State Media Group, Mr Daniel appreciated the First Lady for the inclusion.
The event featured matchpast by different women organisations and groups in the state.