Akeredolu advocates more women inclusion in politics
The Wife of the Ondo State governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has called for more inclusion of women in Nigeria’s political arrangement and an end to all forms of inequality.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, represented by Mr. Rowland Onyeukwu, her Senior Special Assistant (Media), made the call at the public presentation of a book titled “We Live These Lives,” organized by The Female Professionals’ Book Club (TFP) in Ibadan.
She commended the founder of the club as well as the 21 authors of the book who were members of the club, underscoring the need for gender balance and an end to inequality, citing her own experience, which she fought while growing up.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu said that her experience growing up made her swear to attain whatever height her male counterparts ascend and even surpass it, and it also nurtured her passion to bring many women with her.
“Today, that dream of mine is alive in two of my dearest initiatives, the BEMORE EMPOWERED GIRLS FOUNDATION and the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials (plus Female appointees), FOWOSO.
“No more inequality in the treatment of females in this nation, Nigeria. In the political arrangement, we must be accommodated. Against Gender-based violence, we shall fight to a standstill.
“They claimed some professions are the preserve of male children; we disagreed and pushed forward our girls, who eventually demystified their claim as they excelled beyond belief.
“Never again shall women take the back seat in decision-making in this nation, Nigeria. It is so clear now that no height is too high for us (females) to climb. We shall continue to soar to greater heights resiliently,” she said.
Speaking on the book, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said the chronicles of the authors should serve as an impetus to thousands of young girls, now and in generations to come, to dream, aspire, and make them a reality irrespective of the milieu in which they find themselves.
“We Live These Lives” is a testimony of the triumphant exploits of her team. Until gender inequality is brought to its knees, we will remain resilient in the fight. Take a look at the achievements of women chronicled in this book,” she said.
Also in her address, the Chairperson at the event and Director, University of Ibadan Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun, shared her experience while growing up and how she never allowed anyone to look down on her because of her gender and didn’t allow culture and beliefs to rub her off as who she had been destined to be.
“I think we need to have more of this book so that we can show our younger ones that they can excel and stand out in life.
“And between yesterday and today, I have heard many stories about women and how they are suffering, but if they have access to books like this, they will know that they don’t have to suffer that much for them to make it,” Arulogun said.
Also, the unveiling of the book was done by the Director, The Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs. Funsho Adegbola, who underscored the need for women to tell their stories by themselves to demystify some myths about women that were not the true representation of women.
The book reviewer, Mrs. Olutola Daramola, said the over 200-page book had been divided into six parts and had 20 chapters that told unique and inspiring stories of women and sisterhood, which had formed the basics of exploits, discovery, and development the authors enjoyed.
Daramola said the experiences penned down in the book resonate with women of all ages and would help nurture women now and in the future.
The founder of TFP, Mrs. Ezinne Ibe, said the idea to write down women’s experiences in Africa by women, which culminated in “We Live These Lives,” came after members of the book club reviewed “Becoming” by Michelle Obama.
“It was a whole lot of work that took us two years; women across different professions across different age brackets, so you can understand the background of the book.
“I am glad we were able to tell our own story in our own way,” Ibe said.
