By: GELE AGBAI
The stage is set for the two-day 4th summit of the Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees, FOWOSO, holding on December 7 and 8, 2022 in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Both the International Culture and Event Centre (aka The Dome) and Arcade Ground located on Igbotoro Road, Akure will come alive as members of the foundation and delegates drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state converge at the venues to participate at the summit.
FOWOSO, the brainchild of Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is a platform to galvanize and empower the womenfolk in the state.
Founded in 2017, the summit provides the opportunity for the foundation to appraise its achievements and challenges in the passing year. Participants are also educated and inculcated with life-changing skills and information geared towards the socio-economic development of the women in the state.
The Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Pauline Tallen are among top dignitaries billed to grace the summit. Mrs. Tallen is billed to chair the occasion while Gov Wike will be special guest of honour. Of course, the host governor will grace the occasion with members of his cabinet.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Bridging The Gender Gap In The Political Arena: A Case of Nigerian Women”
There will be sub-themes on health education, entrepreneurship and security intended to create new opportunities for Ondo State women.
FOWOSO has empowered about 3,500 women since its inception. The foundation in addition to inculcating the women with skills provided them with start-up kits and access to credit facilities.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the General Manager of Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Akure, Mrs. Olubumi Oke, the Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Gender Research and Documentation, Mrs. Temitope Daniyan gave a peep into the activities of the foundation.
She said; “Ever since Her Excellency established FOWOSO, we have been putting various programmes together to make sure that we accomplish the objectives of FOWOSO.
“In 2018, FOWOSO was privileged to move around the 18 Local Government Areas of Ondo State to empower women through skills acquisition and giving out items to those who have already learnt a skill but were unable to get equipment for the trade.
“We were able to do that and we have positive feedback from everyone we empowered”.
The Office of the wife of Ondo State governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs had in November mounted a one-month programme at the Ministry of Women Affairs where women across the six local government areas in the Central Senatorial District were trained in different skills.
Participants of the programme went home with start-up kits, including ovens, sewing machines and make-up kits so that they could begin to put their skills to use and, in so doing, earn money.
The passion of the Ondo First Lady at empowering women and girls is intense and infectious. Through the Bemore Empowered Initiative, she has trained no fewer than 3,000 girls on solar power technology, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and other life-changing skills. Bemore, which is another of her pet projects, is geared towards raising female technology giants and entrepreneurs. It has demystified science and technology that today, girls drawn from Ondo and Imo States who have attended its periodic boot camps see science and technology courses as bread.
Through FOWOSO, Chief Anyanwu-Akeredolu has raised also the consciousness of women to the point that many of them have today made forays into the political arena hitherto seen as the exclusive preserve of men.
The beauty of FOWOSO is that not only have women in Ondo State accepted its vision and mission, they are also supporting it. The GM of NTA Akure, Mrs. Olubumni Oke is one of the strong supporters of FOWOSO.
Responding during the courtesy visit on her, she said;”I will like to seize this opportunity to thank Her Excellency, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu for this initiative. It is a good thing we have an impactful programme like FOWOSO.
“We need to stand up for women. We really need to support ourselves . FOWOSO is something that we should all embrace and give the necessary support.
“I know FOWOSO and I know the impact FOWOSO has had on the lives of women in Ondo State. I’m promising to provide the necessary support needed for this year’s summit”.
According to the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the 4th Summit, Princess Dora Aroloye there will be series of presentations and dinner party on first day of the summit while parades by women from the local government areas, different forms of entertainment and goody bags for guests will take centre-stage on day two.
The 4th summit promises to be enlightening and rewarding like previous summits if not much more.
