By YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State, on Tuesday led other women groups in a peaceful walk to mark the 2022 International Women Day celebration and raise awareness on the need for gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow.

NAWOJ led by its Chairperson, Comrade Jadesola Ajibola, led a coalition of women groups; NCWS, FOMWAN, MWAN, FIDA, SWID, Youth & Women Initiative, Speak Out, NHRC, NASFAT and Sola Olagunju Foundation, amongst others, to commemorate the day.

While speaking during the walk, Comrade Ajibola explained that women had been marginalised in many areas, especially in the ongoing constitutional amendments done by the 9th Assembly, urging the National Assembly to immediately revisit women issues which were rejected during the 5th amendments.

While presenting a letter on behalf of the coalition to Honourable Olawunmi Oladeji, the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Alhaja Bushrat Olosho of FOMWAN, said women must be given more opportunity to showcase their God-given talents and be allowed to be fully representation ahead of the 2023 general election.

Hon. Oladeji, in her response, called on women across the country to always lend a helping hand to one another and avoid pulling one another down, noting that it is important for women to learn lessons from the women related amendments that were rejected by the 9th National Assembly that if more women were elected such amendments would not be rejected but men would be lobbied for such important things.

Hon. Oladeji commended Governor Seyi Makinde for assenting to women related bills. She thanked the speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and other members of the state House of Assembly for supporting women and ensuring that women bills are passed promptly.

Also, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social inclusion, Hon. Kafilat Olayiwola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Christiana Abioye, said the ministry would always promote women development and would continue to make the lives of women meaningful.

She also commended the governor for always supporting women, lauding the governor’s wife, Engr. Tamunominini Makinde, the SSG, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, and the Head of Service in Oyo State, among others, for being outstanding women who constantly speak for the development of women and girls.