PeakNews Online
Dr Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the former Ondo State Governor, has called for greater female representation in Nigeria’s state and national assemblies to promote gender equality.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the founder of the BEMORE Empowered Girls Foundation, made the call in Ibadan on Saturday during an event organised by the foundation to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD).
Speaking on the theme “Accelerated Action,” she emphasised the urgent need to elect more courageous women into both state and national assemblies.
She expressed concern over recent events in the National Assembly, where only four women hold seats, one of whom was recently suspended.
She commended Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, for her courage in expanding her constituency to include all Nigerian women.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu stated that the theme of the 2025 IWD, “Accelerated Action,” should serve as a wake-up call to implement both short-term and long-term strategies for achieving gender parity.
“For the short term, we need to elect courageous women to represent us in both state and national assemblies.
“In the long term, there’s an urgent need to create environments, like the BEMORE Summer Bootcamp, where young girls can gain practical experience in advancing their goals,” she said.
She emphasised that two key factors could transform a young girl into a leader: understanding her self-worth and discovering her ability to be productive.
“Being productive eliminates dependency, which is largely responsible for the imbalance of power between men and women,” she explained.
She added that it was essential to encourage young women to pursue education and make informed career choices to achieve financial independence.
“As young women become more educated and make the right career choices, the future will be brighter than today. So, let’s get to work now!”
In her keynote address, Mrs Aminat Animashaun, CEO of De’rayo Vocational Limited, urged students in attendance to dream big, stay focused, be patient, and remain determined.
She also called on the government to support startup businesses and create an enabling environment that would promote competitiveness.
Animashaun emphasised the importance of vocational education and training alongside formal education to boost the economic empowerment of youths.(NAN
