From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A community based organisation, VANGUARD Of Okun Women Initiative (VOW), has distributed food items to over 200 women across five local government areas in the western senatorial district of Kogi State.
The VOW President, Mrs Bolanle Bola-Olorunsaiye, told journalists at the distribution venue in Kabba over the weekend, that the gesture was part of activities to celebrate VOW’s One Year Anniversary and to mark the International Women’s Day 2022.
She described VOW as a community based, non political and non-religious, formed by formidable Okun women leaders on March 8, 2021, across the five local government areas of Kogi West including Oworo community in Lokoja LGA.
According to her, they are women leaders committed to giving women in Okunland push and encouragement towards participation in leadership and political roles, for sustainable development, peace and security.
She explained that the organisation’s vision is to strive to create a future in which all Okun woman/girl would be viewed, valued by her community, and equipped to fulfill her unique purpose.
”Its mission is to empower women in achieving their ambitions, create an equal world, fulfill their potentials and be resilience in the face of adversity,” she said.
She emphasised that Okun women are in need of activities that would provide the needed tools to help build the future of their children and generations yet unborn.
In her lecture, Mrs Funke Eseyin, who spoke on ”Women and Mentorship In Commemoration of Women’s Day 2022”, urged women folk to be united and believe in one another.
She encouraged the women to develop competences, prove and convince that they are capable and could be trusted.
She stressed the commitment of VOW through mentorship to promote gender equally, empower women and girl child and remove any barrier that prevent full participation of women and girls in the public and political life.
”Let us work together to promote ourselves as women, let us support our fellow women to become better and rise above limitations,” she said.
Also speaking, the President of Okun Market Women, Hajia Aishat Isa, thanked the VOW president for the initiative towards advancing the course of women in Okunland.
She urged the women to be productive and not stay idle, but engage in petty businesses for their own benefits, and that of their children for a better society at large.
Our Correspondent reports that the food items distributed include rice and food ingredients.