By Hassan Zaggi
The Wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, has charged Nigerian women to be focus and intentional so that they can make the needed impact in all facets of human endevour and also build an enduring legacy for generation yet unborn.
She gave the charge while declaring open a two-day maiden edition of Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) Inspiring Women Summit, in Abuja, Monday.
The summit was put together by the wife of the former Imo state governor, Dr. Nneoma Rochas Okorocha.
Mrs Osinbajo insisted that women are highly gifted and talented, hence, called on them to remain focus so that they can succeed despite obstacles.
“Even if you have young boys playing on the street, they put a few stones and perhaps their shoes and they clothes when their mom is not watching and they make goalposts before they start playing. I never saw a football match without a goalpost. For how can I see women and men live their lives with no goalpost.
“When there’s a goalpost, then you can have focus. When there’s a goal post you can make up your mind. I’m going for the goal. I’m going to succeed.
“This event is meant to inspire us. This event is meant to enable us to identify goal posts and as you identify the goal posts that you can determine in your mind that you’re going to make it to the goal.
“We need to focus and we need to be intentional.
“We need to choose the score. You need to choose to succeed. Choose to win many obstacles to the goal. What are the obstacles to your joy. We’re here to be inspired. And that inspiration is like something pouring into a tub.
“This event. This conference is about inspiring me to ensure the areas that are low are brought up.
“I pray at the end of this conference, everyone will be inspired to be the best than they can do.”
Speaking at a panel discussion, the President , National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), Lami Lau, called on women in the country to continue to raise their voices in support of the 35 percent affirmative action for women.
According to her, such voices are important in order to open up discussions on the pending bills on women.
Mrs Lau further charged women to continue to develop themselves in their chosen fields, stressing that with more knowledge, collective argument will be stronger.
“From your areas of engagement, we need to advocate for a minimum of 35 percent representation of women across board.
“We have legislation that are pending that cover women in the urban and rural areas. We’re asking all women not to be silent. We need concerted voices to have these legislations passed.
“The political parties are the only vehicles through which we can get elective positions, yet, these parties do not have structures that adequately include women. We need to work in the parties and this is a call for women in the political parties,” she reiterated.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the convener of the Summit, Dr. Nneoma Rochas Okorocha, said: “The Summit is organized for the love of our country and nothing but our country. It is for admiration of patriotic devotion to build a better society for our generation and indeed, future generation of Nigerians yet unborn.
“Since inception, WODDI has championed several projects all to ensure the advancement of the cause of women. Such programmes include ‘She Needs a Roof Programme (SNARP) where we built over 205-two bedroom bungalows full furniture for indigent widows and orphans and many other programmes.”
She explained that the theme of the Summit-‘Inspired to be a complete woman’ was chosen to identify the challenges “facing us women and mothers.”
