Over 20,000 benefit from FOWOSO’s empowerment, breast cancer awareness
By Maria Famakinwa
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Over 20, 000 people across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State have benefited from the free medical services at the FOWOSO empowerment outreach and the Breast Cancer awareness.
The wife of Ondo State Governor, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu -Akeredolu disclosed this yesterday at a stakeholders meeting on the 63rd session of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 63).
The meeting which had in attendance representatives of state ministries, Civil Society Organisations, Women based associations, religious leaders, traditional leaders and all relevant stakeholders across the state was held at the Culture and Event Centre otherwise known as The DOME
Mrs Akeredolu who used the avenue to share her experience at the CSW63 as well as led the development of an action plan guided by the Agreed Conclusions of the UN CSW63 praised Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO) for living up to the expectations of empowering women and students in the state.
“Free medical services at all FOWOSO empowerment outreaches together with Breast Cancer awareness to over 20,000 people in the 18 local governments areas. Ondo State Government has been a dependable ally in this regard and greatly appreciated for its supportive role.”
Speaking on her take on gender violence, she said that UN women created a committee of experts on sexual harassment to deal directly with such cases, thereby bypassing the bureaucratic bottlenecks of the system.
“The UNCSW movement has given women a voice globally to kick against sexual harassment especially at work places.’ Boys will always be boys” is no longer acceptable. Let’s stop blaming the victims of rape. Our society must Learn to accept NO when a girl says NO to sexual advances. Mothers must review how we raise our sons to respect and appreciate womanhood.
On menstrual hygiene, she said that provision of WASH facilities in schools is an essential commodity as she revealed that lack of infrastructure negatively impact on the girl-child education because she skips classes during her menses.
On Information Communication Technology (ICT), she said that it is gender neutral. “Let’s encourage STEM in our girls and groom them to become technology leaders. It is doable. We have proved that in Ondo State with BEMORE summer Bootcamp for Girls Naija. We have proved that girls can BEMORE.”
