Osun gov’s wife bags UK award for humanitarian services

Wife of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun, Kafayat, on Thursday night, received a Global Exemplary Leadership Award from a United Kingdom-based non-governmental organization, Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network (GLOBALWIIN).

The award, according to the NGO, was in recognition of her humanitarian services and commitment to impacting the lives of the masses, including her consistent efforts in advocating maternal, child and adolescent sexual and reproductive health, enhancing the standard of living of women and children as well as creating gender equality.

Mrs Oyetola was the only Nigerian awarded out of the 32 awardees selected across the globe for the award in October 2021.

Her interventions and quick response towards championing the betterment of women and girls; advancing their quality healthcare service delivery; vigorous campaign against rape, sexual violence, abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) in general and indeed, leading a public campaign in the elimination of open defecation in the state were part of the yardsticks with which she was considered for the award.

Presenting the award to her at the Government House, Osogbo, representative of the Global Women Initiators and Innovators Network (GLOBALWIIN) in Nigeria, David Abu Osigi, said the nomination of Mrs Oyetola followed rigorous selection and highly-competitive process.

He noted that the nomination and selection were in reciprocation of the various advocacy intervention programmes executed by Mrs Oyetola that were targeted at advancing the cause of women and children, particularly the vulnerable citizens as far back as year 2004.

“This is in recognition of her outstanding tenacity and commitment to impacting lives particularly in Osun State Nigeria. It is a little way of recognising and celebrating her tenacity, innovative contribution and inspirational qualities.

In her short acceptance speech, Mrs Oyetola appreciated the kind gesture of the organisation for finding her worthy of the award, describing it as motivation to do more.

“This will serve as a powerful stimulant for us to do more. It will help us to forge ahead to do more. We are very grateful that you have been tracking our activities,” she said.

In his remarks, Governor Oyetola congratulated his wife and lauded the organisation for considering her for the noble award.