The 2019 Alaghodaro summit commenced on a high note with inspection of Guard mounted by the Nigerian Police and a novelty Match with ceremonial kickoff taking by the convener of the women summit Betsy Obaseki, wife of the Edo State Governor.
The Alaghodaro, Edo women summit, adjudged as the fifth largest and one of the most significant in the world, is the third in the series and focuses on gains of the present administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki
The event this year’s had over seven thousand women present and women from across the eighteen Local Government Council as well as other women groups took turns in the match past
Cultural displays from the 3 senetorial district also added colour to the event.
In her address, Wife of Edo Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki said the Edo Women Summit was to celebrate good governance and support for women emancipation and empowerment by the Governor Obaseki led administration.
“We are here to celebrate good governance and appreciate the governor and his deputy for celebrating women in the state.
“Edo has produced one of the best performing government in the country going by its support for women initiative.
She announced that the governor had agreed to support the appointment of more women into his administration through the propose appointment of women as Senior Special Assistants from across the 18 local government Councils of the state.
“Last year the governor appointed women as Special Assistants on Gender, he has also promised to appoint Senior Special Assistants on Gender across the 18 LGA before the end of the year.
The first lady however appealed that women were given special consideration during campaigns and elections for effective support.
In his remarks,tThe Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki celebrated the contributions of women to the achievements recorded by his administration in the last three years.
“The areas we have made the most improvements had been headed by women. in the areas of Basic education, housing, Health, Child Right laws, reducing Human trafficking and irregular migration, had been chaired by women.
He said with the Edo jobs, Edo production centre, Edo BEST, also headed by women, there would no longer be thuggery in the state in the nearest future.
The governor commended the level of mobilisation of the women from across the state to the summit saying their willingness to identify with programs had opened up the political space in the state.
“We are here to acknowledge your support and we will continue to support you.
“Politics have started and we acknowledge your role . We will never use you again and dump you. We will acknowledge your role and give you the positions you deserve.
Women must be at all levels of our government and women must chose their representatives
The Governor flanked by his deputy, appreciates the women for their support attributing his successes in the last 3 years in area of health, education, financial management, to women in his cabinet.
Prices were given to all participating groups,with awards and cash Prizes to Ikpoba okha women,Orhiomwon, and Igueben LGAs who came first, second and third positions in the match past respectively.
Ten women also went home with live chickens courtesy the Edo women for Agriculture and Enterprise an initiative of the wife of Edo state Governor which had empowed over two thousand women in Edo State in poultry farming.
