Women Will Play Active Roles In My Government -Lagos APC Guber Candidate, Babajide Sanwoolu
The governorship candidate of the party for the 2019 general elections in the state, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu, who made this pledge, added that he had much respect for the women and that this was demonstrated during his tenure as Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions in the state.
Sanwoolu was speaking at an interactive session organised for him to meet with career women by the Office of the State Women Leader of the party under the leadership of Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas.
The event which held at Harbour Point off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday 17, January, 2019, was entitled; "Enabling, Empowering And Promoting Women: Our Pact with the APC Gubernatorial Candidate, Mr. Babatunde Olusola Sanwoolu."
Sanwoolu told the gathering, which included women professionals from the different sectors of the economy, that they were taking charge of their destiny to be at this event, which he said was unique and the first of its kind by any party.
"I personally know the importance of women. I want to appreciate what the women have done for us. I had an opportunity to work with great women leaders such as the late Mrs. Titi Ayeni, Mrs. Bola Adesola, and others.
"I remember the contributions of many female professionals. I remember working with Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
"I value how you have nurtured us. I remember the Beijing gathering in China that talked about women rights that has led to a lot of progress for women.
"We are committed to ensuring that you play active part in our government," he said.
The governorship candidate said further that he wished that the Secretary to the State Government as well as commissioners for Finance and Budget were women, when he gets into office.
Sanwoolu reiterated that his government would empower women, and ensure that the girl child enjoy her rights in the nation.
He promised that his government would deliberately ensure that women did their best have and ensure that females take half of its political posts.
The politician revealed that he ensured that a lot of women were promoted as permanent secretaries, when he was Commissioner for Establishment in the state, and that he would do what was needed to be done to put the women in the right places.
Responding to questions from the audience, Sanwoolu stated that entertainment and tourism were part of his programmes, and that he he would put tourism experts together, and construct a film village.
"Its not by chance that Lagos is the 5th largest economy in Africa. As at 1999, Lagos State was even borrowing money to pay salaries. We built seven bridges in the last few years.
"The government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not complete one road in Nigeria.
"It is our infrastructure in Lagos State that has made us to be a megacity and that is why things are getting better.
"On the issue of employment, the arm that handles that is the private sector, which controls 80% of the GDP.
"We will need to empower them and give them an enabling environment to thrive. It is the big private sector that can handle employment.
"We need to have a well planned out demography to know where people that come to Lagos are. We need to discuss with the private sector to push things around.
"Another one is skill acquisition. We have about 27 skill acquisition centres. We can double it or increase their capacity. There is the employment trust fund for them to access, but we can reduce the condition.
"On education, we should go back to our teacher training institutions and try to increase budgetary allocation to the sector," he said.
Sanwoolu also promised to work on social issues and marriage issues, while urging churches and mosques to act as advocacy centres to counsel people on marital matters.
He also promised to concentrate on healthcare, transportation, housing, waste management, PSP, Agric, Power, Security and other key sectors of the economy.
Earlier in her welcome address, Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, said that Lagos of those days worked well, had strong values and that the people lived in peace and harmony.
Okoya-Thomas recalled that the public and private sectors worked together for the development of Lagos, which she said was home to many Nigerians then.
The Women Leader emphasied that this experience made it easy for people like her to work for the development of Lagos.
"Our Lagos has changed into a megacity and the economic hub of Nigeria and this brings with it a lot of challenges.
"Now, where are the professional women, business women, women of conviction, women who will support others to achieve a common goal.
"Women who would engage the government on issues of significant importance. I was a banker, but I was an entrepreneur after closing hours. I started my business in Oke Arin, Lagos and I was able to influence a lot of people.
"I represented my people at the Federal House of Representatives on three occasions before I left the stage for younger women with fresh ideas," she said.
Okoya-Thomas lamented that women have now been relegated to the background in the scheme of things politically.
She advised the women to do their best and work together to achieve a common objective and be the right handed women that have kept people in power.
According to her; "Let us be the thinker, the intellect, the prayer warriors. Let us influence the decisions of the government. Let us all come together to make our Lagos greater. Our Lagos is our future. "Let us as women leaders leave better legacies for generations yet unborn. I am urging Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu to take the inclusion of women seriously.
"Let us engage Sanwoolu as he has all it takes to move the state forward.
"He will tell us how the partnership with women will work in the state. "I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu will help build a greater Lagos."
In her speech at the event, the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. idiat Adebule appreciated the Women Leader for the programme.
Adebule stated that the programme was a good initiative, and that it was bringing the women together "to present our candidates, good brands, brands that we can be sure that by 2019 would be Governor and Deputy Governor."
Others at the event were the Chairman of the APC in Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, the party's Deputy Governorship candidate for the 2019 elections, Dr. Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, chieftains of the party and several others.
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