Women become unstoppable when supported to rise –Lagos First Lady  

First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has said women become unstoppable when given the opportunity to rise. She also disclosed that over 30,000 people in Lagos have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis in the state, adding while 15,000 of the patients have been identified, 15,000 others are roaming about without subjecting themselves […]

First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has said women become unstoppable when given the opportunity to rise.

She also disclosed that over 30,000 people in Lagos have been diagnosed with Tuberculosis in the state, adding while 15,000 of the patients have been identified, 15,000 others are roaming about without subjecting themselves to treatment.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu spoke in her remarks during the inaugural Lagos-West Women Assembly convened by the Senator representing the Lagos West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr. Idiat Adebule.

The theme of the conference was “Building a Stronger Community”. It afforded the senator the opportunity to showcase her stewardship in the Senate about two years ago even as empowerment grants were given to some trained beneficiaries in addition to raffle draws for participants who won prizes including two (2) mini-buses in support of their businesses.

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The Lagos First Lady flanked by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, former Deputy Governors in the state including Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Princess Sarah Sosan, among others advised Lagosians coughing for more than two weeks to go for check and treatment free of charge.

She also decried the stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS, saying, “they can’t go to school, they can’t go to the market, they can’t go anywhere. Let’s not stigmatize them…”

The first lady lauded the empowerment initiative of Senator Adebule who is the immediate past Deputy Governor of the state, saying, “It is a testament to her enduring passion for women development and grassroots impact.”

According to Mrs. Sanwo-Olu, when women are given the opportunity to rise, “they become unstoppable forces.” She expressed pride that Lagos State is witnessing “the dynamic wave of female leadership,” adding the Lagos west women assembly is both timely and strategic.

The Senator in her remarks urged women to take up leadership positions, saying this starts from the level of community development associations (CDAs), community development centres (CDCs), among others.

She called on stakeholders to join hands in promoting the socio-economic wellbeing and upliftment of women as well as removing the cultural and political barriers limiting the participation of women in the building of stronger and resilient communities.

“If we invest in women and girls, it will become easier to meet the target of sustainable development goals (SDG), overcome other global challenges of conflicts, climate change and economic downturn.

Meanwhile, education, enlightenment, empowerment, motivation and feedback as envisioned in this women’s assembly, is paramount to unlocking the inherent potential of women as a precursor to inclusivity in building vibrant, stronger and resilient communities and nation as a whole.”

In her lecture, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, Founder & Chairperson

Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR) said leadership starts at the grassroots, adding, “If we want to build stronger communities, we must empower women to lead locally and support them as they rise.”

She said, “To lead with purpose, you must start where you are—with your family, your workplace, your community. Every home is a microcosm of the nation. The values we instil in our children, the decisions we make in our daily lives—all contribute to shaping society.

“The truth is, you cannot lead from the mountaintop if you’ve never walked through the valley. The most effective and successful leaders are those who have lived among the people, understood their struggles, and led them from the heart.”