Gender Bills: An Act Of Brazen Discrimination Against Nigerian Women- Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has described  the recent rejection of gender bills by the National Assembly as an act of brazen discrimination against Nigerian women.

She called on the National Assembly to promptly reconsider the bills and approve them.

Leading a rally of women from different walks of life against the recent rejection of gender bills, Sanwo-Olu said the rally was put together as part of activities to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day(IWD) Celebration, with the theme: “BreakTheBias: Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.

“Our interpretation of what transpired with this pattern of voting at the National Assembly on March 1st, 2022, is that the progress of Nigerian women has been rejected. All the proposed constitutional amendments were meant to end bias against women and ensure the minimization; if not total removal of barriers millions of women face on the basis of their gender.

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“We hereby condemn in no uncertain terms this brazen discrimination against Nigerian women. As half of the population of the country, our voices and our lives matter. There can be no development without the full and equal participation of women in all spheres, and any country that continues to deliberately undermine the advancement of women, is simply stifling its own advancement,” she said.

The First Lady also urged Nigerian women to remain steadfast and resolute in demanding an end to acts of bias and discrimination, assuring that victory awaits the womenfolk.

“As another March 8th comes upon us, we charge Nigerian women to rise and demand that all the political, economic, social, and cultural biases that keep eroding our dreams and that of our daughters be brought to an end. Our beloved country Nigeria belongs to all of us, men and women, boys and girls.

“On behalf of all the wives of Governors, I stand with our women that have come from all walks of life; I stand with our women that are here from different states. We are here standing for our rights and saying no to the rejection of the gender bills by the National Assembly. We are standing as one,” she said.

The First Lady, who also spoke on the death of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwole who went missing after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and was later found dead, described the development as sad, shocking, and devastating.

“As mothers, we are devastated; we are in shock; we are not happy. Lagos State is not known for ritual killings and we will not tolerate such.

“Investigations are going on and I am sure there will be justice. Mr. Governor is not sleeping. There will certainly be justice,” she assured.

The First Lady called for one minute of silence in honor of the departed, just as she commiserated with her immediate family over the unfortunate incident.  

Besides, she urged people to continue to be security conscious, adding: “When you see something, say something and do something.”