Sanwo-Olu charges women to speak out on national issues

By Bimbola Oyesola

The wife of the governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has charges women to make their voices heard on national issues, noting that the greatest asset of a woman is her voice.

Speaking at the annual seminar organised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Women Commission in Lagos, with the theme “Promoting Women’s Social, Political and Economic Rights: The Trade Union Approach”, she said, if the women used their voices constructively, it would make waves and bring about positive change and growth in the society.

She encouraged the women to use their voices to build nations, birth greatness and engage the system to demand their rights.

“Let’s use our voice to insist that there must be deliberate policies and programmes to improve opportunities for women and girls.

“We must take advantage of our voice to proffer solutions to the mirage of challenges confronting our nation, including insecurity, economic challenges, among others,” she said.

She charged the women to put their heads together in order to proffer solutions to the insecurity ravaging the country, rather than leaving it to the men alone.

She said Lagos State government, under the leadership of the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has placed more value on women and this is reflected in the appointment into boards and all strata in the state.

The President, Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo said the theme for the seminar was quite apt and it presents another opportunity to interrogate gender inequality in Nigeria.

“The ILO’s goal is to promote equal opportunities for women and men to obtain Decent Work. This means fairly paid productive work carried out in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. That is why the ILO considers gender equality a critical element in efforts to achieve its four strategic objectives.

Osifo said, “While many national governments have signalled their tacit acceptance of these rights by signing onto progressive international human rights treaties, very few have abided by them meaningfully. The effects of non-compliance are even more dire on women.”

He noted that women and children remain vulnerable and most denied of basic rights, as there must be constant advocacy on the subject and as a matter of fact more women are required in  participation in politics, leadership and governance in order  to help change the downward trajectory of nations’ implementation of fundamental human rights.

“We must understand that more representation translates to a greater level of participation in the affairs of the country. That way, issues that are of particular significance to women’s rights will be promoted,” he said.

He expressed that It is a known fact that women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes and the benefits of empowering women are enormous and clear.

The TUC President added that increasing women and girls’ educational attainment contributes to their economic empowerment and more inclusive economic growth, stressing that collective interest, closing gender gaps in the world of work are key to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“When more women work, economies grow because there would be increase in productivity and economic diversification.

“To ensure and guarantee socio-economic rights, we must strive to support and promote gender inclusiveness,” he maintained.

In her remark, the National Chairperson, Trade Union Congress, Women Commission, Hafsat Shaibu said, it is a clear fact that women constitute a good percentage of the labour force and  it then becomes pertinent that they need quality and affordable education, stable electricity supply, accessible and affordable health care deliveries, etc to be able to reach their full potentials and contribute their skills to the workforce and thereby aid in raising a healthy family which will in return boost their working life and also their retirement period.

She charged the women to stop acting weak and must be seen respectfully ready to take up positions of higher responsibilities, as they must stop waiting for the men to take the juicier positions and throwing leftovers at them.

She lamented that presently Nigerian women are facing daunting social, political and economic challenges and for democratic governments to deliver to the masses, women must be truly represented and must be equal partners in the process of democratic development.

She said, “As women, we require access to more and better jobs, a business environment that supports us in starting and doing business, and a good working environment.”