COWLSO hosts three govs at women conference

The Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials is set to hold the 24th National Women’s Conference, with the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, and his counterparts in Akwa Ibom and Nasarawa, Umo Eno and Abdullahi Sule, expected to grace the occasion.

The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who announced this on Monday at a press conference in Alausa, sought support for women through empowerment.

Ibijoke stressed that the objective of the conference, scheduled to hold in September, was to provide support and platforms for women to enable them to take their places in society.

She said, “It is pertinent to note that the annual conference, which has been consistent, inspiring and improved upon over the years, has earned a remarkable reputation and assumed the status of a purpose-driven conference through which the lives of thousands of women are positively impacted.

“The objective of the conference has not changed. The NWC is to frontally address various challenges facing women, empowering and supporting them in becoming independent and realising their full potential as this will further influence their lives, families, communities and our nation as a whole.”

Ibijoke, who is the chairman of COWLSO, announced the conference’s theme as: “Soar Beyond Boundaries: Enrich Communities.”

According to her, the conference will be a combination of virtual and physical participation, and will be held from September 10 to 11, 2024 at The Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Also present at the press briefing were the wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Oluremi Hamzat, and the Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Prof. Olufunke Adeyeye.

Last year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that the progress of Lagos could be “intrinsically tied to the empowerment and participation of its women.”

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2023 National Women’s Conference, Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said women had always been essential to the foundation of the state’s development.

“It is not a question of if women should have a seat at the table; it is recognising that they have always been essential to its foundation,” the governor stated.