By Precious Oluwole

Chief Executive Officer of Restoration of Dignity of Womanhood, ROTDOW, Mrs Olabisi Omolona, has commended the Ondo State chapter of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ over its various programmes targeted at impacting positively and championing the course of women and girl-child in the society.

ROTDOW Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Omolona gave the commendation at a programme on Gender Based Violence, GBV, by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund held in Akure.

Represented by Programme Officer of Restoration of Dignity of Womanhood representing, ROTDOW, Patrick Adedoyin Adebisi, she affirmed, that she has heard so much about the great impacts of NAWOJ, saying she’s eager and ever ready to partner the association to record successes in its projects.

According to her; “We have heard so much about NAWOJ. We can see and feel your impact in the community and Restoration of Dignity of Womanhood have been in the system. I’m sure we have been working together too.

“We are here today on a project championed by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund on Gender Based Violence.

“The grant is to strengthen institutions to know the women voices, to know the right and ending violence against women and girls in Nigeria and we have heard that NAWOJ has been doing so many work on GBV and also we have been doing so many work on GBV to ensure women bring back their strength and bring back their capacity as a woman and be able to have the strength in the society about leadership aspect and also empower them by giving them equipments for self sustenance.

“We have done so many work as an organization and also on this project, we are here to create awareness, advocate for more and also for collaboration on this project.

“The project is to foster a comprehensive understanding of women leader and inclusion and also to promote their positive impact across the community and the community we will be working in on this project is Ipoba 1 and 2 in Idanre Local Government”, she stated.

Continuing, Mrs Omolona hinted that the project objectives is to equip 20 women with leadership skills and knowledge to advocate for GBV prevention and response and also to strengthen and support the system for GBV services in Ipoba community.

“We noticed that most women are not identified in the community and they see themselves as subordinates and don’t see themselves as someone that can lead.

“With this project, it will equip them and also empower 15 community women in vocational skills and as change agents in combating harmful social norms and attitudes towards women in Ipoba.

She hinted, that the research have noticed that most women don’t see themselves as one who can rule. With this project, we will be able to enlighten those women in Ipoba 1 and 2 for them to have the skills, for them to have a change of mind that they can actually be a leader and to eradicate the social norms.

“We are advocating for policy change that promotes gender equality and increase the number of women in leadership positions across various sectors in Ondo State.

“Above-listed are the three objectives of this project and we are here for your collaboration so that we can be able to achieve this. We can’t do it alone, with your collaboration we will be able to achieve success at the end of this project”, she submitted.

Responding, NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Tola Gbadamosi, thanked ROTDOW for identifying with the association.

“Thank you for accepting that we actually have like minds and of course certainly, Ondo NAWOJ has been striving so hard to ensure we keep up with what we believe in about women to ensure that women’s rights are being protected and to also ensure that their voice is being heard.

“Our noble association has actually heard about your organization before now and for over the years, we have been collaborating, working and we will continue to synergy with you by the grace of God for resounding successes in your life-impacting projects.

“Let me use this medium to appreciate this great effort to come to us and certainly, we will collaborate with you because women too are our focus.

“Women and children are our focus and for their voices to be heard in the community and in the state, NAWOJ will collaborate with you and ensure that we work together to achieve the desired and befitting results”, she stated.