By Maria Famakinwa

In order to commemorate 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD), wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu has distributed delivery kits, popularly called ‘solayo’ to expectant mothers in Akure North Local Government.

Mrs Akeredolu who was represented by the Chairperson, Akure North Local Government, Ms Gbemisola Ogbesetore, said the initiative was aimed at identifying pregnant women from the grassroots who are unable to afford essential birth items and to empower them with the Solayo kits.

Speaking on this year’s IWD theme “DigitalAll Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” she said over the years, “we have seen improvement in the status of women but there are still several challenges affecting the opportunities, choices and socioeconomic well-being of women and girls in our society today.

“Gender inequality remains the norm around the world. We must not relent in raising awareness of persistent challenges.

“The 2023 theme is #Embrace Equity while the United Nations’ theme is Digit ALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” Ondo State women must play their part in embracing equality. Each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our sphere of influence. Encouraging our daughters to pursue careers in politics, STEM fields among others.”

In her welcome address, Head of Akure North Local Government Administrator, Mrs Adejoke Adejoro, said IWD is a special day because existence comes from women. 

She appreciated Mrs Akeredolu for her various programmes to uplift women in the state and urged them to key into it.

Counseling the expectant mothers at the programme, Akure North Primary Health Care Coordinator, Dr. Amodu Olusegun, represented by Mrs Bolanle Ariyo, urged the expectant mothers to take care of themselves by avoiding self medication, eat balance diet, care for their personal hygiene and visit the hospital whenever they have complain. 

Dr Olusegun also advised them to give birth to the number of children they can care for.