Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his Delta State counterpart, Mr. Sherrif Oboroweri, have called for proper mentorship and economic empowerment for women to ensure speedy national economic growth.
The call was made at the opening ceremony of the 26th Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) conference held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu during his presentation, acknowledged women’s resilience, saying that government policies must actively address practical needs through accessible finance, markets, healthcare, and employment.
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He said that in the past years, his administration has continued to champion female economic participation, noting that 80% of graduates from the state’s 36 vocational training schools are women, supported by initiatives like the Lagos Employment Trust Fund.
Sanwo-Olu urged accomplished women in business, professions, and public service to intentionally open doors and pull younger women up to make their journeys easier.
“Last year, we celebrated the silver jubilee of this conference under the theme, 25 Years of Visionary Legacy: Inspiring the Next Generation. It was an occasion to honour the vision of those who established COWLSO and the successive generations of women who have sustained it. Today, we must take that reflection a step further. Having celebrated the legacy, we must now consider what we are building upon it.
“One of the greatest strengths of COWLSO is that its work has continued across successive administrations. From its founding years to the present day, different generations of women have contributed their time, resources and leadership to sustaining its purpose. That is an important lesson for all of us in public service. Leadership is temporary, but the institutions we strengthen and the opportunities we create can endure long after our tenure,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
While celebrating the sustained legacy of COWLSO over the past seven and a half years, he charged future leaders to preserve the organisation’s core values.
In his remark, Delta State Governor, Mr. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by his Deputy, Mr. Monday Onyeme urged women to live purposefully and drive societal transformation through actionable leadership.
He also emphasized that a purpose-driven life moves beyond personal achievement to empowering others, championing fairness, and transforming communities.
The Chairperson of COWLSO and the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu enjoined women to define themselves through a clear purpose and strategic blueprint to scale new heights in a changing world.
The First Lady also commended the participants for investing in their self-development and closing the gap of distance that often impedes personal and professional growth.
