Eko 4 Women: Sanwo-Olu celebrates Fidelity Bank MD, GTCo, Awosika, others

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has recognised and celebrated the enduring impact of women in Lagos, including Fidelity Bank MD, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; Managing Director GTCo, Miriam Olusanya, and CEO North-West Petroleum, Dame Winifred Akpani through the Eko Women 100 initiative.

Spotlighting their contributions to the narrative of A Greater Lagos, the initiative is in its third year running, and honours the leading women who are blazing the trail in their fields, contributing to the growth of the state and inspiring the next generation.

For this year, some of the women honoured on this year’s list include also, the First Lady, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Ibukun Awosika, media mogul, Mo Abudu; elder stateswoman, Mrs Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele and Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, Prof. Olatunji-Bello.

Others are MD Suntrust Bank, Halima Buba; EcoBank Chairman, Bola Adesola; distinguished stateswomen, Alhaja Lateefat Okunnu and Alhaja Sikirat Jakande; CEO, Eleganza Group, Sade Okoya; veteran artist, Nike Okundaye-Davies, among others.

The event , which held recently in Lagos builds on the significant Eko4Women annual celebration, which has honoured over 300 women. In addition, each recipient received a personal letter of recognition from the Governor, showing appreciation for their commitment to excellence. Like the occasions before, the initiative empowered several medium and small female-owned businesses across the state. These women were drawn from all parts of the state, across various fields and strata of society.

“The Women of Lagos are powerful, visionary and represent our great state at the highest level globally. They have made Lagos their home bringing their expertise and excellence to great effect”, the Governor said.

Expressing gratitude for the gesture and commending the Governor’s initiative, many of the recipients acknowledged the honour from the state government. “I understand that recognitions such as this are worthy of celebration because this shows that the Government is aware of the little contributions we all make to keep this nation alive”, said Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder, Terra-Kulture and one of the honorees.

The fight against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria is not a resounding success – yet. Over 30 per cent of girls and women aged between 15 and 49 are reported to have experienced sexual abuse, which actually worsened during restrictions.

The Head, Domestic Violence Unit, Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State, Olorunfemi Oluwatoyin, representing the commissioner of the ministry, noted that prompt responses are given to the daily reports the ministry receives on GV and the shelter for survivors is at the verge of completion.

In recent years, the government has enacted laws and established institutions which prohibit violence against women and girls, including the Child Rights Law, Protection against Domestic Violence Law, the Office of the Public Defender Law and the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team.