International Women’s Day: Akeredolu promises more women representation in governance

Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has promised an effective women participation in his government that will supersede the United Nations 35 per cent affirmative action.

Akeredolu said this on Wednesday at the 2017 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme: `Women, Be Bold for Change’.

The governor said that day was a time to celebrate the socio-economic and political achievements of women across the globe.

He pledged to involve more women in his administration as well as support their programmes.

“We will take deliberate steps to engender more participation of women in our leadership system.

“We will also take deliberate steps to encourage and increase women programmes in keys areas in our administration, especially, in health and agriculture.

The wife of the governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, decried the low representation of women in positions of authority across the country and called for an urgent attention to address the imbalance.

“I want to encourage our girls and women to take charge so that we will have more women representing and pushing our agenda,” she said.

The Chairperson, organising committee of the celebration, Mrs.Yemi Fasanminu, urged the governor to increase women’s participation in his administration as their role could never be overemphasized.

“It is important to increase women in governance as a way of ensuring they all have equal opportunity to take part in decisions concerning them.

“This will, no doubt, strengthen democracy in the state as only few women had the opportunity of getting elective and appointive positions in the state in the last 20 years,” Fasanminu said.