Women must remain at the heart of nation building — Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has stressed the need to bolster inclusivity in the nation’s governance structure, saying that this must be done to ensure that women remain integral part of nation building.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the call on Tuesday in his goodwill message at the 25th National Women’s Conference, organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), which took place at the Eko Hotels and Suites.

The governor, while noting that the theme of this year’s conference, which is, “25 Years of Visionary Legacy: Inspiring the Next Generation,” reminds everyone that legacy is not about the past but about the future, saying that the women who began this journey had handed down a vision that continued to inspire new leaders, innovators, and change agents.

He emphasised that inspiring the next generation meant more than mentorship, saying that it it meant modelling excellence, integrity, and resilience.

Besides, the governor said It meant empowering and young women to believe that no dream was too distant, “no height too high, and no boundary too strong to break,” declaring that the future of Lagos and indeed the nation depended on how boldly the nation’s equip her women to lead with courage and conviction.

“As we reflect on this silver jubilee, we must appreciate that COWLSO’s enduring strength lies not only in its programmes but in the values it represents — compassion, collaboration, and continuity. The women who began this journey have handed down a vision that continues to inspire new leaders, innovators, and change agents.

“Indeed, ‘Inspiring the next generation’ means more than mentorship; it means modelling excellence, integrity, and resilience. It means empowering our daughters and young women to believe that no dream is too distant, no height too high, and no boundary too strong to break.

“The future of Lagos and indeed our nation depends on how boldly we equip our women to lead with courage and conviction,” he said.

“As we engage in the sessions and discussions over the next two days, let us remember that the next chapter of COWLSO’s story will not be written by history, but by the actions we take today — to nurture leadership, to promote inclusivity, and to ensure that women remain at the heart of development and progress,” he added.

Also speaking, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who joined the conference online, stressed the need to continue to nurture families, strengthen communities across Lagos State, and inspire a generation of women across the country.

The First Lady noted that it was not possible to celebrate 25 years of COWLSO without honouring its past, adding that the event was also celebrating “the legacy and vision of the Founder of COWLSO, our mother, late Mrs. Olufunmilayo Omobolaji Johnson, wife of the First Military Governor of Lagos State, who gave us the wings to fly.”

“We cannot celebrate 25 years of COWLSO without honouring our past. We celebrate the legacy and vision of the founder of COWLSO, our mother, late Mrs. Olufunmilayo Omobolaji Johnson, wife of the first military governor of Lagos State, who gave us the wings to fly,” she said.

Earlier, Wife of Lagos State Governor and Chairman of COWLSO, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the theme of the conference was carefully chosen, describing it as both timely and instructive.

According to her, it challenges participants to reflect on the journey of the past two and a half decades, saying that it was also to “appreciate our collective achievements, and recommit ourselves to nurturing the next generation of women leaders, professionals, and changemakers.”

“Over the past 25 years, COWLSO has remained a formidable platform for empowering women, promoting family values, and supporting government initiatives through carefully designed programmes in healthcare, education, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability, and social welfare.

“Through this annual conference, women from all walks of life have found a rallying point to exchange ideas, build networks, and sharpen their capacity to influence positive change in society,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu said.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE