By: Tolulope Oluwole
In continuation of the celebration of International Women’s day, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Ondo State branch, on wednesday 9th March, 2022 organised at Ayede-Ogbese in Akure North Local government area of the state, IWD Rendezvous in collaboration with AYEDE-OGBESE Women Vanguard, with funfair.
The Rendezvous was put together to celebrate with the women in Ayede Ogbese, to steer up their interest in politics, to charge them to take the ship and the banner, also how they can contribute more meaningfully to the development of their community and the country as a whole.
The Theme of IWD Rendezvous is; “Changing Climate: Equity Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”
The state FIDA Chairperson, Mrs Catherine Ogunjebi while addressing the women at The Royal Ranch, Ayede-Ogbese, pointed out that women face more challenges in terms of climate change than men.
Ogunjebi said, “If the items planted in the farm don’t grow well, women will have nothing to sell or when she makes more sales, she has a lot of expenses to spend money on than men who have little expenses and all these challenges should be addressed early so that we can have an assured future”.
She noted that one of the major problems women face so far, is lack of western education as most women farmers lack proper orientation on farming, like the use of fertilizer and how they market their farm produce for maximum gain.
Ogunjebi said that lack of funding also affects women, “We need funding to practice the needed farming techniques, we need funding for irrigation. With all these, our (women) future can be sustained”.
While commending the women at Ayede Ogbese for being hardworking and active, the FIDA Chairperson urged them to stop monopoly of business.
Her words “Do not sell the same thing in the same area, give yourselves space for different sales”.
In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Mrs Olamide Falana who said that women have a lot to do at home and in the society, explained that if not for women, the nation’s culture would have vanished and women are always present in all areas of development.
Falana charged the women to always speak up to get their entitlements, stop female genital mutilation, train their children, drop all negative cultural norms and support other women that are in politics.
Falana commended efforts of Governnor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for establishing an agency on gender related issues, to ensure the protection of right of individual, both men and women who are victims of gender based violence and actively respond to gender based violence whenever it occurs.
The Alayede of Ayede Ogbese, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rapheal Ajibola Oluyede in his response expressed his happiness and gratitude to FIDA Ondo state branch and Ayede Ogbese Women Vanguard, stressing that the women needs empowerment and most of them do not have land of their own for farming.
He noted that he is committed to empowering women and developing the community.
The Monarch said “We need to empower them by giving them the right to their own land that they can derive their own benefit from, to help their husbands and do what they are already doing now better.
“They won’t have to go through physical and manual labour, as everything has been mechanized, there are equipment that will help them to farm large hectarages and all they need to do is to manage it and ensure that everything is in order.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ayede Ogbese women, Mrs Oluwafunmilayo Edwin, who is also a female talking drummer expressed her excitement, adding that she believe that women are going to the top.
Edwin noted that she chose to be a talking drummer because she wants to challenge the bias that only men plays talking drums.
Also, Mrs Mercy Ogunmola who spoke for the women said that she loved the programme organised by Ayede Ogbese Women Vanguard and Ondo FIDA, and she believes that it will upgrade the women at Ayede Ogbese, calling for regular holding of such programme to enable them achieve success.
