The Kwara State First Lady, North Central Nigeria, Olufolake AbdulRazaq has congratulated all Nigerian women on the celebration of the 2025 International Women’s Day.
AbdulRazaq noted that it is pertinent to celebrate women because of their contributions to the growth of the state and the country, stressing that it is important to empower women because empowering women is empowering the whole nation.
The First Lady spoke though the state Commissioner for Social Development, Bosede Ibrahim in Ilorin the state capital during the celebration of the event organized by the Micheal Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in collaboration with dEvelopment Research Project Centre (dRPC) and Kwara State Ministry of Women Affairs.
The First lady while appreciating the efforts of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq in promoting women in his cabinet urged other Governors to emulate him by having the interest of women at heart in their policies.
She also charged them to create an enabling environment for women to thrive and give them the courage to make meaningful impact in the society.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Ilorin Comrade Issa Aremu commended the First lady, Senator Remi Tinubu for her relentless Leadership in mobilizing women for national development within the context of her novel pet Women Economic Empowerment Programmes: Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).
The Director General said the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu has done a wonderful job empowering women across the Country through the numerous programmes coming from her office.
“Her programmes will benefit Nigerian women greatly, over 1000 Women benefitted from ₦50,000 grants across the Country and I want to call on women to take advantage of this opportunity for their business.
“Similarly, her office has also organised a ₦25 million Award prize for Women fashion designers who could come out with the best designs across the Country and also another ₦20 Million reward programme for women in Agriculture and this will be an incentive for women to engage more in gardening and farming,” he said.
The Director General said however the most impactful of Senator Oluremi Tinubu is the ongoing campaign to end tuberculosis scourge in Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other agencies like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA.
“Tuberculosis is a disease of ignorance, poverty of knowledge and fear, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has commendably demystified the disease by adding her voice that it’s preventable and curable free of charge. We think Nigeria can halt the prevalence through early treatment”.
He also praised the President Tinubu’s Administration for considering women in appointment into his cabinet and policy implementations by putting women in important positions especially the appointment of First female Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
In her remarks, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Afolashade Oluwakemi represented by Director of Personel, Finance and Supply , Akanni Ramat described the theme of this year’s celebration as very apt and timely.
She said that this celebration is coming at a time when society is just waking up to recognise the right of women.
Oluwakemi while lamenting that women are not given the right place in the African society called on the society to give a chance to women to play their part in the progress of the society.
She also commended the efforts of Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration for taking giant strides in ensuring that women and children in the State live fulfilling lives which is achieved through his conviction to entrench gender equality by ensuring 35% Gender Composition Bill (GCB) was signed into law .
MINILS expressed readiness to partner more with the government across the board and the offices of the First ladies in efforts to empower the women in the Country.
During a presentation by Ajibola Ibikunle of the Icon of Glory Concept, titled, “Women: The Global Solution Provider,” he disclosed that the creation of women is to bring solutions to all existence as they are the ones that bring about multiplications.
He noted that excluding and neglecting women in the society will be characterised by stunted growth and development, urging women to provide solutions to the State, Country and the world at large
Representatives from Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) also gave their goodwill messages at the event calling for intensification in the fight against gender inequality.
One of the highlights of the event was by the Kwara State Arts and Culture dance troupe who added glamour to the occasion with a special dance performance.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “Right Advocate For A Sustainable Future #For All Women and Girls#.”
Comments are closed.