….Stakeholders Hail Akeredolu, as Ondo is developing gender policy
By: Tolulope Oluwole
The office of the Ondo State Governor’s Special Adviser on Gender yesterday on Tuesday flagged off a three day workshop on Gender Mainstreaming And Development of Gender Policy in Akure, the state capital.
The workshop is meant to train 30 desk officers, 18 participants from each local governments in Ondo State and 12 from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Hon. Mrs Olamide Falana, Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender while speaking at the opening ceremony, stated that the project is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and gender programming capacity of the State personnel across the 18 LGAs and relevant MDAs towards achieving gender responsive planning, budgeting and implementation process.
She pointed out that it also has as part of its set objectives, the development of the State Gender Policy, in line with the one from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social National Gender Policy Development.
Falana said, “This workshop is in line with one of the key indicators which is Education Advancement and Human Capital Development with the goal of training officers who will serve as Gender Desk Officers in their various Local Governments, Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as serve as reference points for gender related activities in the State”
“Being the first in the series, the drive for enhanced institutional capacities will continue till every MDA and arm of government has requisite skills to understand how gender, when factored in, can accelerate progress and boost human capital index of the state while affecting lives through gender aware policies and implementation,” Falana said.
While congratulating the participants for being part of a global trend on gender awareness hence, the training will equip them for tasks ahead, the Special Adviser noted that the officers from the LGAS will be the Gender Desk Officers who will serve as reference points for the State Gender office. Tasks will be shared for tailored programmes, hence a lot is expected from them which will be mutually beneficial to all.
A Representative from UNICEF, Mrs Cynthia said that gender is about ensuring women folk are not undermined. Noting that UNICEF is committed to promoting gender in all areas, protecting women and children’s rights, protect them from violence gives children access to education, irrespective of their background and to provide technical support needed for women to have equal rights to be leaders.
The Director of Programs, ActionAid Nigeria, Alhaja Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, expressed her happiness in supporting gender in Ondo State.
Dankabo also appreciated the Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for including women in his cabinet and lauded efforts of Hon Olamide Falana in promoting gender as the Governors Aide. “Gender is about equality and capacity and issues affecting women should be taken seriously.”
Representing the Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, Mrs Temitope Daniyan, in her keynote address, described the workshop as timely and a landmark event, adding that gender mainstreaming, includes involvement of women in governance.
Pastor Adeniran John Adeyemo, Ondo State Head of Service in his goodwill message, appreciated God and the Governor’s SA on Gender for the workshop.
Adeyemo also applauded the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu for appointing Mrs Olamide Falana as his Special adviser on gender hence the giant strides that are being. He noted that gender is not about women alone but about both male and female, he encouraged the participants to see themselves as an ambassador of their local government as far as gender is concerned. “You are having a new status now, see that no gender is short changed”.
While encouraging the SA that there are other traditional organizations that can be reached out to, Adeyemo commended ActionAid for pledging continuous support.
Also Speaking, Dr (Mrs) Adebunmi Osadahun, the Commissioner for Women Affairs noted that women are leaders and cannot be silenced either at home or in the office.
Osadahun added that her ministry is following the protocols that has been put in place, stressing that women must stand up to achieve equality and also, women rights must be given to them.
Mr Emmanuel Igbasan, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget explained that since the inception of Governor Akeredolu, the issue of women has been on the frontline, stressing that some funds had been given to some women in agriculture.
He said “Women are stronger and not weaker vessels, they are in the forefront of the development of a state and in all policies, women will be mainstreamed”.
