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  • News - South West - Lagos
  • Updated: March 08, 2022

#BreakTheBias: Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu Leads Rally Against Rejection Of Gender Bills

#BreakTheBias: Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu Leads Rally Against Rejecti

Lagos State First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu addressing women during a rally against rejection of gender bills by the National Assembly in commemoration of Year 2022 International Women’s Day

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday led a rally of women against the recent rejection of gender bills by the National Assembly, demanding an immediate passage of the bills.

The rally, organised by the Purple Women Foundation in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum tagged “One Million Women March Against Gender Discrimination, saw the First Lady and the women marching from Lagos State Secretariat to the House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja where they were received by principal officers including the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun; Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade; Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Hon Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, among others.

It was put together as part of activities to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day Celebration, with the theme: “BreakTheBias: Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.”

Addressing the women, the First Lady described the rejection of the gender bills as an act of brazen discrimination against Nigerian women, calling on the National Assembly to promptly reconsider the bills and approve them.

L-R: Member of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, Mrs Nkem Sofela; Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Cecilia Dada; First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos Women Leader, Hon Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, during a rally against rejection of gender bills by National Assembly in commemoration of Year 2022 International Women’s Day at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.“Our interpretation of what transpired with this pattern of voting at the National Assembly on March 1st, 2022, is that the progress of Nigerian women has been rejected.

"All the proposed constitutional amendments were meant to end bias against women and ensure the minimization; if not total removal of barriers millions of women face on the basis of their gender.

“We hereby condemn in no uncertain terms this brazen discrimination against Nigerian women.

"As half of the population of the country, our voices and our lives matter.

"There can be no development without the full and equal participation of women in all spheres, and any country that continues to deliberately undermine the advancement of women, is simply stifling its own advancement,” she said.

The First Lady also urged Nigerian women to remain steadfast and resolute in demanding an end to acts of bias and discrimination, assuring that victory awaits the womenfolk.

“As another March 8th comes upon us, we charge Nigerian women to rise and demand that all the political, economic, social, and cultural biases that keep eroding our dreams and that of our daughters be brought to an end.

"Our beloved country Nigeria belongs to all of us, men and women, boys and girls.

“On behalf of all the wives of Governors, I stand with our women that have come from all walks of life.

"I stand with our women that are here from different states.

"We are here standing for our rights and saying no to the rejection of the gender bills by the National Assembly. We are standing as one,” she said.

The First Lady, who also spoke on the death of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwole who went missing after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and was later found dead, described the development as sad, shocking, and devastating.

“As mothers, we are devastated; we are in shock; we are not happy. Lagos State is not known for ritual killings and we will not tolerate such.

L-R: Members of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Bisi Yusuf, Hon Mojisola Alli-Macaulay; First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Speaker, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Lagos APC Women Leader, Hon Mrs Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; Deputy Speaker, Hon Wasiu Eshinlokun; and Majority Leader, Hon Sinai Agunbiade, during a rally against rejection of gender bills by National Assembly in commemoration of Year 2022 International Women’s Day at Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

“Investigations are going on and I am sure there will be justice.

"Mr. Governor is not sleeping. There will certainly be justice,” she assured.

The First Lady called for one minute of silence in honor of the departed, just as she commiserated with her immediate family over the unfortunate incident.  

She also urged people to continue to be security conscious, adding: “When you see something, say something and do something.”

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