Int’l Women’s Day: Osun First Lady, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, Tasks Women On Positive Character Development

The Chairperson, Southwest Governor’s Wives Forum and Wife of the Osun state Governor, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, has tasked women to develop themselves to be women of content, character and capacity for effective political participation.

Mrs. Oyetola, who spoke on Tuesday during the International Women’s Day Ceremony and launching of the state GESI Policy held in Osogbo, the Osun state capital said, since the inception of the present administration, improved attention had been devoted to the attainment of gender equity and equality in Osun.

According to her, “the administration has taken unprecedented steps to effectively integrate our women into the political and economic systems. The administration is on record on the passage and implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law. This law takes a global view of the various biases and attacks that have for long yoked our women in the areas of health, social engagements, political participation and economic engagements.

“This Policy would help to move further the gains that had been recorded from the various development efforts of our founding fathers in the State.

“The Policy will also help the State to appropriate the talents of our people irrespective of either being born male or female. This inclusiveness would boost the development index of the State in an unprecedented manner.

“We have chosen to launch this Policy today to further accentuate the determination of the present administration to make Osun a better place for men and women to live together and improve their living conditions. This desire further informed the choice of our theme #BreakTheBias. We are in no doubt that women in Osun are as talented, industrious and willing as their male counterpart to jointly drive the plough of development in this State. This however, can only happen if we individually and collectively work together to break every form of bias against the female gender.

“This is the time to break every form of bias, stereotypes and discrimination against women. If we are to evolve a State that guarantees sustainable development and better tomorrow, we must break the bias and make our women active stakeholders in political, economic and social decision-making processes. This need is no longer debatable. Countries that are making progress have taken this for granted.

Mrs. Oyetola, while thanking her husband for the resolve to see that the GESI policy becomes the instrument of operation of the various ministries and departments in the state said, “after putting in place the necessary legal framework, we shall take another significant step in ensuring gender equity and gender equality in Osun by launching the State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy.”

Speaking, the Governor of the state, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola congratulated the women in the state on occasion of this year International women’s day.

Oyetola who described the women as Inestimable value said the roles of women in the Development of any country cannot be underestimated.

He said: “I am indeed very delighted to join you, our highly valued women of valour and substance, at this year’s International Women’s Day, with the apt theme, Break the Bias.

“Permit me to congratulate you all on this important year’s celebration and on the launch of the State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy.

“By your unique nature and importance to humanity, you are worth celebrating daily. So, we celebrate you daily and always as a people and a government.

“We are also proud to join the world to celebrate you annually and to seek better ways to intellectually interrogate your importance and contributions to the society and humanity.

“If today, the world is in crisis, if today, our democracy is crying for help, it is because there is a gap you have yet to fill in the larger society as our mothers. We are confident that, as the bias is broken, the world shall begin to know and enjoy peace.

“This policy is another bold effort by our Administration to mainstream the invaluable roles of our women in societal development while also protecting them from the misgivings that often arise from the deep roots of patriarchy, which have defined our society from time immemorial.

“I must thank my wife and our dear First Lady, Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, whose inspirational leadership has made it possible for this policy to be launched today.

“I testify that, beyond her normal call of duty, the First Lady possesses an unquenchable passion for empowering women of our State to not only fulfill their God-given potential, but to also become active contributors to the development of our great State.

“It is therefore not surprising that the State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy is being launched on an important day as this, set aside globally for the deserving celebration of women. ” He said.