•Say no gender balance in governor’s appointments

Renowned human rights organization under the aegis of Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has commended Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State for the appointment of Hon. Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo as the Commissioner for Women Affairs.

The organization said her appointment was indeed a case of a round peg in a round hole.

The Founding Director of WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, on behalf of other women gender activists, however raised concern over the decline in the number of women representation in the Ogun cabinet, saying Governor Abiodun should learn from Ekiti, Kwara and other States.

She said, "While thanking the Governor, we are however concerned with the decline in the number of women representation in the Ogun governor's cabinet. There are a total of 4 women out of 21 Commissioners and six women out of 22 Special Advisers.

"This is a paltry 19.1 per cent and 27.1 per cent respectively. This, without any iota of doubt, is a very poor performance. We expected more from governor, His Excellency Dapo Abiodun, who had promised that the interests of women would remain at the forefront of his administration’s agenda.

"We use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly to pass the gender bills into laws. These bills will help to secure a minimum of 35 per cent affirmative action for women in both elective and appointed positions.

"We urge our dear governor to do more for women in subsequent appointments. While Ogun state had always been in the lead in women appointments, today several states (including Kwara and Ekiti) have enviable records of women inclusion. Notably great Nigerian women are from Ogun state. We call on the governor to do the needful to tap from their wealth of knowledge to build the state."

According to WARDC, Hon. Adeleye-Oladapo is adequately qualified for the role, adding that with her wide expanse of experience as a former two-term member of the State House of Assembly, she has also interfaced with women groups advocating for the rights of Nigerian women.

"We believe that she will live up to expectations, and make groundbreaking changes in the lives of Ogun state women. As a body, WARDC and other women groups are committed to supporting her and continuing with our work for the protection in the state."

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