By Seyi Babalola
The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and other women groups have applauded Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the appointment of Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo as the Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state.
The Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi in the appreciation message to the Governor on behalf of other women groups said Adeleye-Oladapo’s appointment was indeed a round peg in a round hole.
‘Hon. Adijat is adequately qualified for this role, with her wide expanse of experience as a former two-term member of the Assembly. Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo has also interfaced with women groups advocating for the rights of Nigerian women’, the message stated.
The groups said they are convinced that the appointed female commissioner will live up to expectations, and make groundbreaking changes in the lives of Ogun state women.
‘We believe that she will live up to expectations, and make groundbreaking changes in the lives of Ogun state women. As a body, WARDC and other women groups are committed to supporting her and continuing with our work for the protection in the state’, Akiyode-Afolabi wrote.
The bodies while thanking the Governor, however expressed concern with the decline in the number of women representation in the Ogun State Governor’s cabinet, noting that there are a total of 4 women out of 21 Commissioners and 6 women out of 22 Special Advisers.
‘This is a paltry 19.1% and 27.1% respectively. This, without any iota of doubt, is a very poor performance. We expected more from governor, H.E Dapo Abiodun, who had promised that the interests of women would remain at the forefront of his administration’s agenda’, the message emphasised.
The women groups in same vein called on the National Assembly to pass the gender bills into laws, stressing that these bills will help to secure a minimum of 35% affirmative action for women in both elective and appointed positions.
‘We use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly to pass the gender bills into laws. These bills will help to secure a minimum of 35% affirmative action for women in both elective and appointed positions.
‘We urge our dear Governor to do more for women in subsequent appointments. While Ogun State had always been in the lead in women appointments, today several states (including Kwara and Ekiti) have enviable records of women inclusion. Notably great Nigerian women are from Ogun state. We call on the governor to do the needful to tap from their wealth of knowledge to build the state’, Akiyode-Afolabi stated.
