The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, announced on Thursday that 33,530 women in the state have benefitted from a total of N536,480,000 in revolving grants through the Oko’wo-Dapo initiative to support their business activities.
Adeleye explained that the ministry’s skill acquisition programs have trained over 5,000 women in areas such as fashion design, catering, decoration, makeup artistry, gele-tying, and hairdressing, equipping them with essential skills and promoting financial independence….READ MORE….
She emphasized that the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun is deeply committed to empowering women and fostering their upliftment through impactful initiatives.
Adeleye made these remarks in Abeokuta on Thursday during an event to mark International Women’s Day, themed “Collectively, We Can Accelerate Action.” She further noted that the ministry has been active in challenging gender-based stereotypes and addressing economic exclusion, which often hinders women’s progress.
The commissioner also highlighted the government’s efforts to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which led to the establishment of three new Sexual Assault Referral Centres in Ilaro, Ijebu-Ode, and Abeokuta. These centers are designed to provide essential support to survivors of GBV within 72 hours of the incident.
Additionally, Adeleye announced plans under the Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative to build two International Standard Women Development Centres in Abeokuta and Ijebu-Ode. These centers will provide training in vocational and life-enhancing skills for women and girls.
Adeleye also celebrated the success of the Oko’wo-Dapo Scheme, which has helped create 1,616 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) across the state’s 20 local government areas. Through these groups, 33,530 women have received support, and the state government has distributed over N536 million in revolving grants. The WAGs have collectively saved over N1.72 billion, demonstrating the financial discipline and resilience of Ogun’s women.
The commissioner concluded by urging continued support for women’s empowerment to foster societal progress.
At the event, Ogun’s Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, encouraged Nigerian women to form alliances rather than viewing each other as competitors. She emphasized the importance of equipping women with the necessary knowledge, exposure, and training to succeed in leadership roles.
Salako-Oyedele spoke on this year’s theme, “Collectively, We Can Accelerate Action,” underscoring the importance of collaboration in overcoming barriers to women’s advancement. She urged women to work together, share knowledge, and support one another to amplify their collective voice.
The First Lady, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, also spoke, urging women to prioritize training and empowering young girls. She noted that many young girls in Ogun could achieve greatness with the proper guidance and mentorship.
In her lecture, Mrs. Omotayo Adeyemo, State Programme Advisor at the Society for Family Health, discussed the benefits of family planning, stressing that it helps reduce infant mortality, allows for childbirth spacing, and enables mothers to balance economic needs with career goals.
The event concluded with the distribution of empowerment tools, such as popcorn machines, generating sets, and grinding machines, to women across the state. Beneficiaries, including Mrs. Adesanya Olufunke and Adeosun Adebimpe, expressed their gratitude to the state government for the support.