..advocates inclusive, transformative digital education for girls, women
..says SOLAYO initiative connotes Gov Akeredolu’s commitment to women’s well-being
To mark the year 2023’s International Women’s day in Ondo state, wife of the Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, puts smile on the faces of indigent pregnant women across the state with the distribution of SOLAYO safe delivery kits.
The SOLAYO presentation was done simultaneously in all the headquarters of the 18 local government areas of the State, with Chairperson of each Local government performing the distribution of the kits on behalf the First Lady.
In her address, which was read by all Chairpersons, the Ondo First Lady charged women to embrace equity within their spheres of influence by encouraging girls to pursue careers in politics and in the field of Science, Technology and Mathematics, STEM.
Speaking on the general theme of the event #Embrace Equity, and the UN’s theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”, Mrs Akeredolu said, “Both themes challenge us to embrace equity in all spheres of society, in the education sector, healthcare sector, innovation and technology space. It encourages us to explore the impact of the gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities”.
According to her, the theme became pertinent as women were being affected negatively by changing labour markets, especially in the technology sector.
She, therefore, called for an inclusive and transformative technology and digital education among women and girls to enable them fit in to the changing global markets.
She decried challenges confronting the status of women in this society and called for a persistent awarenesses on the need to improve the status of women.
She said: “We have seen improvement in the status of women but there are still several challenges affecting the opportunities, choices and socioeconomic well-being of women and girls in our society today.
“Gender equality remains the norm around the world. We must not relent in raising awareness of persistent challenges”.
The Ondo First Lady and Founder of the Bemore Empowered Foundation for Girls, noted that the initiative through which about 3,000 girls have been trained in solar technology and ICT, was a way to bridge gender gap in solar and ICT.
“This opportunity has given them a level playing ground with their male counterparts in STEM”. she added.
On the the SOLAYO initiative, Mrs Akeredolu averred that it also served as a way of embracing equity in healthcare delivery.
Congratulating the beneficiaries, she asserted that, “We have kept faith in this gesture since it began in 2019 and we will continue to do this as a constant reminder to our women that the Akeredolu led administration takes seriously matters that affect women”.
At the headquarters of Akure North Local Government, Iju-Itaogbolu, where a team from the office of the First Lady, joined the Chairperson of the Local government, Miss Gbemi Ogbesetore, the selected pregnant women were charged on embracing family planning and produce the number of offspring they could cater for.
Dr. Olusegun Amodu, from Akure North Primary Health care encouraged them on balance diet and personal hygiene in order to deliver of healthy babies.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head of the Local Government Administrator, Mrs. Adejoke Adejoro, lauded the commitment of Ondo First Lady towards uplifting the status of women in the state through her various life-changing and empowerment initiatives.
Beneficiaries of the gesture, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for sustaining and making it an annual tradition to mark international women’s day. They affirmed that the kits given would go a long way to aid delivery and nursing of their babies.
In attendance were members of the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees, FOWOSO, BEMORE Girls, Nurses amongst others.
It features training of women on how to conduct Breast Self Examination (BSE), for early detection of breast cancer.
Pictures from other Local government Local areas
Story Credit: Mary Agidi
JATS Online News 