For women in the Lagos West Senatorial District, arguably Nigeria’s largest Senatorial District, Tuesday, 8 April, 2025, will remain a memorable day for them, reports thegazellenews.com.
It was the day naira ‘rained’ for them. It was the democracy dividends delivered themselves at their doorsteps. It was the day they witness what is called true representation. It was the day they can rightly beat their chests and said “yes we are reaping the rewards of our loyalty, commitment and steadfastness for the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in the Upper Legislative Chamber, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, not only dazzled but also kept the women on their edge of their seats and even the First Lady of Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; and the APC Women Leader in Lagos State, Honourable Jumoke Okoya-Thomas, expressed the wish that Dr Adebule should have emerged from their Senatorial District.
The event was tagged, the Lagos West Women Assembly where women met and discussed way forward for female inclusive participation in governance and enhancement of their welfare.
This was the primary aim of the meeting but it goes more than that. Indeed, accomplished women: Mrs Aminat Oyagbola, founder of Women in Successful Careers (WINSCAR) was on hand to share her experience; so also was the Chief Executive Officer of City Counsellors, Mrs Yetunde Oriolowo. And both gave lectures that enlivened the environment as well as improved the knowledge of the women, but thegazellenews.com can revealed that this particular event was more than just interaction and speech-making. It was more than that.
Senator Adebule electrified the hall when she announced that over 250 women would be empowered at the event. They will get cash, and tools of their trades. Widows were not left out as they were given cash succour.
She reserved the best for the last, while rounding up her speech, she announced that the women stand to win prizes as a raffle draw is being organised for them as the extra-curricular part of the event.
Thus began a part of the event that kept guests and participants on their feet.
Five women were picked to go home with a bag of 50kg rice each. Along the line, three women whose ticket were picked but were not in the hall when they were called each got their bags of rice due to the magnanimity of the Senator many loved to call ‘Sisi West’.
Next, four women each won generator, yet another batch of four women won baking oven and the best was saved for the last.
First, Wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat, picked a woman from Olorunda Local Council Development Area as the first winner of star prizes – a new car. Then, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu picked the second star-prize winner from Odiolowo-Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area.
The women were happy and the hall remained electrified throughout the event.
Earlier, Senator Adebule had called on all stakeholders to join hands in promoting the socio-economic wellbeing and upliftment of women.
She stated that building stronger communities begins with providing women and youths functional soft skills and financial empowerment.
The former Deputy Governor of Lagos State also called for the support of everyone in removing the cultural and political barriers limiting the participation of women in the building of a stronger community.
Senator Adebule said, “Our journey towards building stronger communities begins with providing women and the youths relevant social, economic and political education; functional soft skills and financial empowerment which are the ingredients needed to energise them to leadership in all sectors including political leadership.”
“Therefore, the participating women at this assembly have been carefully selected as fair representation of the good and beautiful women of Lagos-West and our intention is to enlighten, inspire, and motivate them with the required tools to enhance their capacity to live up to their naturally assigned roles of builders of stronger and resilient communities.”
Sisi West also seized the opportunity to inform her constituents about what she has been doing in the Red Chamber as well as in the area of providing dividends of democracy to them.
“I have embarked on capital projects for the benefit of the Lagos-West constituents. The projects are at various stages of completion,” she noted.
Some of the projects are: construction of market stalls in Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA of Alimosho Local Government; construction of a Skills Acquisition Center at Damingoro, Mushin Local Government; construction of a Primary Health Centre in Igbolobi town of Ojo Local Government; completion of the Ultra-Modern Youths Development Centre with an integral 300-Seater CBT Center in Badagry Local Government; construction of a block of 36-classroom School Building at Awodiora Primary School, Awodiora Estate of Ajeromi-Ifelodun; among others.
In addition, she has presented seven bills and two motions in the Upper Legislative Chamber.
The event was also attended former Deputy Governors of Lagos: Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan; former Member, House of Representatives and the Lagos State APC Woman Leader, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas; and former Deputy Speakers of the Lagos State House of Assembly: Princess Adefunmilayo Tejuosho and Mrs Bola Badmus-Olujobi; member representing Lagos State in the National Population Commission, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye; member of the House of Representatives representing Alimoso Federal Constituency, Honourable Ganiyu Adele Ayuba; and the Director General of Adebule Campaign Organisation and Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Honourable Rasaq Olusola Ajala among others.
In her remarks, the First Lady of Lagos State said that the state government under her husband, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, remains fully committed to gender equity, economic empowerment, and the protection of women’s rights.
She said Lagos State is proud to witness a dynamic wave of female leadership and collaboration, driving transformation from the grassroots to the corridors of power.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu also called for safer and supportive spaces for women in society.
She said the Lagos State Government will continue to create pathways for women to thrive.
“Through programs such as the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, entrepreneurship development schemes, and women-focused summits, we continue to create pathways for women to thrive,” she stated.
“At the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, empowerment remains a top priority. Later this week, we will be presenting various empowerment tools to another group of trained beneficiaries who have undergone sessions on financial literacy and business management. These initiatives are aimed at expanding economic opportunities and enabling financial independence.”
The First Lady commended Senator Adebule for the Lagos-West Women Assembly initiative, noting it is a testament to her enduring passion for women development and grassroots impact.
“The Lagos-West Women Assembly is both timely and strategic—it provides an inclusive platform for connection, capacity building, and citizen-government synergy,” Dr. Sanwo-Olu said.
The theme of the event was ‘Building Stronger Community’, and two guest lecturers were invited to speak to the women.
In her own presentation, Founder of Women In Successful Careers (WISCAR), Amina Oyagbola, encouraged women to start their leadership journey at the grassroots.
“The truth is, you cannot lead from the mountaintop if you’ve never walked through the valley. The most effective and successful leaders are those who have lived among the people, understood their struggles, and led them from the heart.
“Leadership starts at the grassroots. If we want to build stronger communities, we must empower women to lead locally and support them as they rise,” she said.
Oyagbola said the current state of women’s representation in leadership in Nigeria is a call to action.
“We celebrate our achievements, but we must demand better—not as a favour, but as a fundamental requirement for effective and inclusive governance,” she said.
For her part, CEO of City Counsellor, Mrs. Yetunde Oriolowo, said women should prioritise their wellbeing, especially their mental health.
She commended the Lagos-West Women Assembly initiative, noting it will play a key role in strengthening the mental health of women.
“As women, if we want to be useful to ourselves, our families, and our communities, we need to look after our wellbeing, especially our mental health.
“We play a lot of roles. We look after the children, care for the family, support our husbands, engage in home chores and even contribute to community development. It is therefore very important for us to take care of ourselves. We should create a time for rest and relaxation,” she said.
