By Stephen Adeleye
The wife of Kogi Governor, Hajiya Sefinat Ododo, has restated the commitment of her office and the Kogi Government to continue to sustain women empowerment initiatives in the state.
Mrs Ododo gave the assurance on Tuesday at the occasion organised by her office to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day in Lokoja.
The governor’s noted that various empowerment programmes had been initiated by her office to empower women and young girls in the last eight months across the state.
She disclosed that her office had offered grants to over 1000 women in small and medium businesses across the state.
She said that gesture was targeted at enhancing girl child education and vocational training to safeguard the future of young girls and women in the state.
She urged the government at various levels to take necessary steps towards protecting women’s rights, curbing violence against women, and supporting them for nation-building.
Ododo emphasised that women played a pivotal role in shaping society and stressed the need to protect them from sexual and gender-based violence.
She reaffirmed the commitment of Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s administration to tackling poverty, insecurity, access to healthcare, and the menace of out-of-school children in the state.
“As we celebrate our nation’s independence day, it is very important to remind ourselves of our freedom from poverty, freedom from illiteracy, and violence against women in the state,” she said.
Earlier, the Secretary to Kogi State Government (SSG), Dr Folashade Ayoade, implored the women to continue to pray for the governor and his wife for the success of the state and Nigeria at large.
Ayoade commended the governor’s wife for her humility and passion in empowering women across the states.
Other dignitaries at the occasion include the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Momoh; the Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Comfort Unwuchola; and wives of commissioners, among others. NAN
