From: Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs. Betty Akeredolu, has assured that she would not abandon the pet project of her predecessor, Mrs. Oluwakemi Mimiko.
Mrs. Akeredolu, who addressed a group of women, in Akure, informed that she would rather continue with all the programmes initiated by Mrs. Mimiko, especially the Gbebiro programme, which was centered on women and family development.
The Ondo First Lady, who acknowledged the services rendered to the state by the Olusegun Mimiko administration, promised to continue from where her predecessor stopped, just as she stressed the need for women in the state to give maximum support to the present administration in the state.
Specifically, Mrs. Akeredolu disclosed that her office would ensure the total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), saying the state government would adopt various means to ensure total abolition of the practice.
She expressed optimism that the present administration in the state would raise children and develop both women and youths in all the Local Government Areas in the state.
According to her, the education of girl-child will be given priority attention by the state government.
“Housewife is not synonymous with motherhood. You can be a mother and house wife, and still be at the top of your career. It is no longer man’s world; it is man and woman’s world,” she stressed.
She lamented the traditional practices against women, especially the FGM, asserting that “We are going to fight against it and I am going to lead the fight against it. It will be stamped out of this state.”
She disclosed that a 24 member committee has been inaugurated to identify the problems confronting women with a view to improving the wellbeing of women and children in the state.
“We will identify gaps and work towards bridging those gaps. I will ensure that women enjoy the present government in the state. The women folk supported us, so, they must enjoy the government of Akeredolu like their men counterparts,” she said.