Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, made an appeal for women to get more involved in politics on Tuesday in Lagos. She claimed that men had not been able to find answers to the many issues facing the nation.

Speaking as the Special Guest of Honor at the annual 2021 Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), with the theme “Awake,” and hosted at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Victoria Island, Akeredolu made this call.
The governor declared, “Men have never led this country properly,” highlighting the necessity for women in order for men to attend to the pressing requirements of the country. He also pointed out that women’s contributions to Nigeria’s advancement have played a crucial role in the country’s history.

Governor Akeredolu remarked that Nigerian women have performed many great feats throughout history and that these women should be honored going forward because no sane society can exclude women and expect advancement.
Nigerian history is filled with tales of women who bravely saved lives. Women have made contributions to this nation’s advancement in the past. We have to keep appreciating them.

“No sane society can hope to advance while forcing women to take a backseat. Women must drive progress if the nation is to advance, he stated.
While acknowledging that women make excellent leaders, Akeredolu added that those who are politically aware among them should not leave politics to males alone because they have never effectively governed this nation.
I’m prepared to follow ladies; we all need to be prepared. Strong leaders are women. Politically conscious women must stop leaving politics to males alone as they have never effectively governed this nation.

“You have to get involved in politics. You have to rise above the jamboree of becoming the most accomplished political vocalist at rallies. The governor declared, “You have to do something other than sing at political rallies.
Therefore, the governor advised males to support women in politics while also advising spouses of political office holders not to use their behavior to discredit their husbands’ integrity and to positively influence their husbands’ decisions on public policy.
Don’t restrict women’s freedom. Being the spouses of public officials is simply insufficient. Supportive spouses are required by law for their husbands. It’s critical that you leverage these unique advantages to shape governmental regulations.

“Convince your husbands to change for the betterment of the nation.” We need to consider concrete methods that women may intervene to change the narratives, as insecurity is at an all-time low, according to Akeredolu.
Continuing, Akeredolu bemoaned the fact that women “are enemies of themselves” and urged First Ladies and spouses of other political office holders to be “light to other women.”

“Wives of public officials need to be a strong support system. You must reject the advice of the evil that has the potential to split the nation. “You should not allow your behavior to undermine your husbands’ moral character,” he advised.

In her message, the President’s Wife, Aishat Buhari, was represented by Dr. Rukayyat Gurin, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Administration and Women’s Affairs to the President. She encouraged women to utilize their positions for the greater good of society while also urging men to stand by their spouses.
“For women, Lagos has set the standard. The strength of Lagos women’s support for their husbands is evident in this conference. Lagos ladies and Nigerian women in general might benefit from this seminar.

“I would exhort our husbands to stand by their spouses so that we might all reach greater heights. It’s critical to remember our history. I really feel that our husbands are rooting for us. To move forward as a team, we need more help,” she remarked.
The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, emphasized the value of women in society, particularly in the home, and urged them to take responsibility for their actions and not let them fall to the wayside.

“Awake” is a call to action for women in the twenty-first century to fully recognize their roles as pillars, enablers, and catalysts in the home, at work, in the community, and throughout society at large. The governor declared, “It is a call to action for women of all ages to be fearless, bold, and outspoken in the pursuit of a truly just, equitable, and inclusive society.
“The need for such a forceful wake-up call can never be over-emphasised in a world where women’s perspectives and needs are often marginalised and where physical, sexual, mental, and psychological violence of all kinds is routinely employed against them,” he continued.

Men should also be aware of how they treat women, Sanwo-Olu said, cautioning that their words and deeds may unintentionally hinder women “or make their journeys through life more difficult than it should be.”

The governor went on to say that the state had already been aware of this and said that his government will keep up its efforts to “make sure women take their rightful place in the greater agenda that we have.”
He expressed gratitude to COWLSO for helping his government, particularly in the fields of health and education.

In her inaugural address, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman of COWLSO, urged women to take a stand and make positive contributions to society. She noted that the country’s recent security challenges, including kidnapping, terrorism, and banditry, should be seen as a wake-up call for women to prepare for the future.
It’s time to take charge of our lives and make constructive contributions to society. Avoid being carefree. Never forget that you have something valuable to contribute, no matter where you end up. No matter what job you play—grandma, working woman, homemaker, entrepreneur, student, or farmer—we all have a part to play, she remarked.

According to Dr. Sanwo-Olu, COWLSO has given women the chance to “unlearn, learn, and relearn in order to align them with modern realities and also prepare them ahead of challenges of life” over the years.

The presentation of the 2021 Inspiration Woman Awards to a few members was one of the event’s highlights on its opening day.
Among them were Chief (Mrs.) Bintu Fatima Tinubu, Iyalode of Lagos, Mrs. Foluke Abdul-Rasaq, and Mrs. Muheeba Wonuola Folami.

Asisat Oshoala, a female football player from Nigeria, was also given an award for being the 2021 Inspirational Youth.

First Ladies from Osun, Ondo, Kwara, Ogun, and Ekiti states attended this year’s ceremony, while Mrs. Salawu Bashua represented former Lagos State First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
The late Dame Obafunmilayo Johnson, the late Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson’s wife and the first Military Governor of Lagos State, formed COWLSO in 1974. When Senator Oluremi Tinubu was the First Lady of Lagos State in 1999, she brought the body back to life.