Ogun deputy gov urges women to break barriers

Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele has asked Nigerian women to form allies and stop seeing each other as competitors, to break barriers against stereotypes and advancement in all facets of life.

Salako-Oyedele equally challenged women eyeing leadership roles in the country to get sufficiently equipped with the necessary knowledge, exposure and educational training.

He stated this in Abeokuta, in a keynote address delivered at an event organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

Salako-Oyedele said the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘Collectively, We Can Accelerate Action,’  underscored the power of support and collaboration for the uplift of women in the country.

She said “No woman climbs the ladder of leadership alone, and neither can any one woman’s singular effort dismantle the deep-rooted barriers that hinder women’s advancement.

“To truly accelerate action, we must be deliberate about working together—across professions, generations, and political divides—to build a strong and

united front that amplifies our collective voice.

“Women must see one another as allies, not competitors. Too often, the struggle for limited opportunities pits us against one another when, in reality, our strength lies in collaboration, mentorship, and the strategic sharing of knowledge and opportunities.”

She added, “Studies have shown that when women are in leadership, decision-making becomes more inclusive, governance improves, and economies grow stronger.”

The deputy governor urged men to further support women’s empowerment, saying societies which empowered women experienced better health, education, and economic outcomes.

She regretted that despite a lot of work women usually put into electoral success in the country, they were more often than not sidelined when the rewards came in terms of appointments and leadership roles.

She, therefore, urged women to prepare for leadership roles by adequately equipping themselves, sharpening their skills, and ensuring that they have the credentials to back their aspirations.

The wife of the governor, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, urged women to prioritise training and empowering the young girls.

She said many young girls in the state could be great, but must be adequately mentored and supported to attain the lofty heights.

She, therefore, urged the women to learn to form a synergy and support one another for a more prosperous future.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, said Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration remained committed to improving the lot of women.

She said the ministry’s skill acquisition programmes had equipped over 5,000 women in fashion designing, catering, decoration, makeup artistry, gele-tying, and hairdressing, ensuring that they gained not just skills but financial independence.

She revealed that under the Oko’wo-Dapo scheme, a soft loan initiative to boost the businesses of women in the state, 33,530 women had received over N536m as revolving grants to support businesses.

Adeleye said through the intervention and others, the women organised into Women Affinity Groups have collectively saved over N1.72bn, demonstrating the financial discipline, commitment, and resilience of women residents in the state.

The commissioner then called for more support for women’s empowerment, for a more stable and prosperous society.

She thanked men for the opportunity and support, adding, “To the men who walk beside us, your support is invaluable, and your commitment lights the way. Yet today, I challenge you to not only stand with us but to lead by example.”