Lagos First Lady, Others Receive Awards As Lagos NCWS Installs New Executives

From left: National president, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Hajiya Lamidi Adamu Lau; First Lady of Lagos State / Matron, NCWS, Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; NCWS President, Lagos State, Alhaja Memunat Ajao and former deputy governor, Lagos State, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan during induction and Award ceremony of NCWS, Lagos State chapter in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday.

At the induction and award ceremony organized by the National Council of Women Societies Nigeria (NCWS), Lagos State chapter, new executives were appointed led by Alhaja Memunat Ajao as the President.

The event also witnessed the conferment of awards of excellence to several individuals.

First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu spoke during the ceremony urging women to lift each other up “We are the voice for the voiceless. There are so many people that need our assistance. Women must be lifted up.”

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said the task of women societies goes beyond taking trips across the country, noting it is a task that requires hard work, commitment and dedication to address the socio-political challenges confronting the women.

“One power that we have is our mouth and tongue and we will use it constructively to develop our country and state. We will remain beautiful women that have brains”.

Of particular importance, according to her, was the high prevalence of drug abuse which she said is to be fought by women and the sexual and gender-based violence which she said is very rampant.

It was also stated that Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has directed that all the First Lady’s at the state level get involved in the activities of NCWS whether you are a returning or new First Lady.

She however commended the NCWS for being in the forefront of promoting issues affecting the women, advising the executives not to rest in their oars by focusing on economic and social empowerment of women.

The new President of NCWS in Lagos, Alhaja. Memunat Ajao promised to serve diligently and peacefully with other members of the executives to lift women in Lagos State.

“Women should trust themselves. Government should trust women for without women there is no Nigeria. Women are the ones who bring up children; women are the ones training these children. Therefore, they need the assistance of the government to help them in bringing up good children for the nation,” she said.

Some of the awardees included the First Lady herself, 93-year-old Alhaja Lateefat Gbajabiamila, mother of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajamila; Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; Dame Abimbola Fashola, Wife of Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola; former Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, among others.