Ogun Focuses On Girl-Child Education,As 3 MAPOLY's Students Get Scholarship

The Ogun State Government has pledged to give priority to the education of  girl-child,to ensure more women in the State optimally fulfill their potentials.

Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele made this known in Abeokuta, during the investiture of Dr. Mrs. Taiwo Alakija-Aroyeun, as the third Chairperson of Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Abeokuta chapter.

Also, three Accounting students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Memunat Alaran, Yetunde Adefolusi and Aishat Mustapha  won the 2021 SWAN indigent scholarship award, during the investiture 

Salako-Oyedele, represented by the State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe says  the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has been supporting the development of the girl-child, through the implementation of impactful policies and programmes

She stressed that the present administration was concerned about gender-balance.

“The present Government is determined to ensure gender-balance, and this has been demonstrated through the appointment of women into sensitive offices. It is on record that Ogun is the only State in the South West, with a female Deputy Governor”, she said.

Speaking earlier, the 56th ICAN President, Dame Onome Adewuyi, who was conferred with the Eminent Personality Award, says that gender equality is crucial to the inclusive development of any nation

She asked the Governor Dapo Abiodun to engage more female chartered accountants and encourage them to contest for positions in both executive and legislative arms of government.

Also speaking, Dr. (Mrs.) Alakija-Aroyeun said the Society would give priority to improvement of membership drive and welfare, initiate different entrepreneurship programmes, implement scholarship scheme to indigent students, among others.

Delivering her lecture on "Gender Inequality", The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Prof. Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale said gender inequality still exists in different forms globally, stating that factors like lack of access to education, unequal opportunities, cultural and religious factors were some of the causes of gender-imbalance.

Akeredolu-Ale pointed out the need for girl-child to access basic education, availability of economic and political opportunities for women and increase in empowerment, and many others.

High point of the investiture was the presentation of Awards to individuals who distinguished themselves including the Ogun State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Kikelomo Longe, who was honoured as a Patron of the body, ICAN President, Dame Onome Adewuyi who was presented with the eminent Personality Award as well as Deaconess Abike Solanke as a Patron and Mrs. Oyebola Oyekunle, who got the Pillar of Support Award.