Erelu Bisi Fayemi, the wife of the former governor of Ekiti State, has called for a transformative shift in values and the creation of an enabling environment to address the persistent issue of gender inequality in Nigeria. Delivering a keynote lecture at the launch of the Titi Tomori-Ponnle Foundation in Osogbo on Saturday, she urged Nigerians to take bold steps to empower women and bridge gender gaps in all spheres of life.
Speaking on the theme “Breaking Barriers: Empowering the Next Generation of Nigerian Women in Business and Public Life,” Fayemi highlighted Nigeria’s low global ranking in gender equality and the urgent need for systemic change. She stressed that achieving gender justice requires robust legislative and policy frameworks, including the adoption of the Sexual Harassment Prohibition Bill at national and state levels and ensuring equal representation of women in leadership positions.
Erelu Fayemi underscored the importance of fostering partnerships between men and women to achieve sustainable progress. She advocated for safe and trauma-free education for the girl child and consistent investment in their development, noting that such efforts are critical for the nation’s future. She also called on men to embrace responsibility and act as God-fearing providers for their families, emphasizing that the active participation of women is essential for meaningful national development.
“Gender-friendly legislation is a prerequisite for providing an enabling environment for women to achieve their full potential in Nigeria,” Fayemi remarked. Her message resonated with the audience, sparking conversations on actionable steps to advance gender equality across various sectors.
The event also featured an address by Grace Titilayo Tomori-Ponnle, former deputy governor and founder of the Titi Tomori-Ponnle Foundation. She articulated the foundation’s vision of creating a society where every youth and woman can achieve economic independence and contribute actively to their communities.
Tomori-Ponnle noted that the foundation was born out of her observations of the resilience and creativity of Nigerian women and youth, despite the significant challenges they face. “Their unwavering spirit inspired the creation of this foundation,” she said, emphasizing the need for practical and sustainable empowerment initiatives.
Highlighting the shortcomings of some existing empowerment programs, Tomori-Ponnle lamented that economic hardships had forced some beneficiaries to sell their tools of empowerment. She outlined the foundation’s four pillars: education as the greatest equalizer, comprehensive skills development, provision of microloans and grants, and partnerships with financial institutions to create sustainable economic pathways. Additionally, the foundation recognizes the critical importance of health in driving economic productivity.
Adding his voice to the occasion, Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, urged Nigerians to invest in humanity through skill acquisition initiatives, entrepreneurship, and human development programs. Oyetola emphasized that human capital development is essential for nation-building and aligns with the national Renewed Hope Agenda championed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Oyetola’s goodwill message reinforced the importance of collaborative efforts to empower marginalized groups and foster inclusive growth. He called on stakeholders, philanthropists, and government bodies to rise to the challenge of addressing socio-economic disparities, particularly those affecting women and youth.
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