Worried by the level of gender inequality in Nigeria which has negatively affected the development of women-related policies in the nation, wife of Ondo State Governor, Her Excellency Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has challenged Nigerian women to strategize and occupy their rightful position in the society, in order to contribute to solving women-related problems in country.

Mrs Akeredolu gave the challenge in Akure at the Southern Zonal Women Leadership Development workshop of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria(MHWUN).

She pointed out that the fight for gender mainstreaming in Nigeria is way beyond chanting solidarity songs and slogans by women groups, stressing that goal-setting with defined objectives within a time frame is the ideal way out.

According to the Sunshine State First Lady, for some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) -which are geared towards women development- to be attained, women should be adequately represented in policy-making bodies for proper articulation and policy formation.

Ondo State First Lady also assured the trade union that the Akeredolu-led administration in Ondo State is a labour-friendly administration, and advised them to make their demands with every sense of civility.

In her words, “Fellow women, we need to put women in positions where they take decisions affecting them; which means, we need to increase women representation at the Local Government, State and National Assemblies; that is strategic planning. It is not about, No Woman, No Nation; that’s not how to solve it.”

In his address, the National President of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Comrade Biobelemoye Josiah, said that the theme of the Workshop: “Expanding the capacity of MHWUN women towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals” is apt and timely, considering the need for adequate skills, awareness and exposure in a knowledge-driven and fast moving world today.

Comrade Biobelemoye expressed optimism that the Workshop will go a long way in building capacity, enhancing skills and promoting trade union education in their union within the women folk.

The National Chairperson, women commission, MHWUN, Comrade Sylvia Dagu said, the issue of combating gender-based violence in Union, workplace, homes, society and the nation at large has become very critical within the public domain, because women deserve to be treated fairly as humans.

Present at the workshop were women delegates from the Southwest, Southeast and South-South regions.
Others are Southeast vice president of the union, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor and his counterparts from the Southwest and South-South, Comrade Femi Adebisi and Comrade Sunny Osayande, respectively.

Highlight of the opening ceremony was the “SEKEM DANCE”, a fun way of demonstrating breast self-examination by Breast Cancer Association of Nigerian (BRECAN).