By Yemi Oajutemu
Ado Ekiti
An aspirant for the Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1 seat at the House of Representatives under the All Progressives Congress, Engineer Olaoluwa Dawodu, has called for increased investment in women through education, economic empowerment, mentorship, and health support as Ekiti State joined the global community to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.
Dawodu popularly called EOD made the appeal in a Press statement made available to Journalists in Ado Ekiti on the 2026 IWD, urging women leaders, community groups, and development advocates to continue contributing meaningfully to the development of the state while advocating for greater societal commitment to supporting women across various sectors.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” the Isan-Ekiti-born community developer and world renowned Engineer called on stakeholders from government, civil society, and women’s organisations to reflect on the achievements of women in the state and the need to expand opportunities that enable them to thrive socially and economically.
According to the engineer, the theme encapsulates the power of generosity, collaboration, and mutual support in advancing the cause of women and strengthening communities, noting that sustainable progress is often built on the willingness of individuals and institutions to invest in the development of others.
Dawodu emphasized that International Women’s Day provides an important platform for citizens to appreciate the critical role women continue to play in shaping families, communities, and institutions, stressing that progress is rarely achieved in isolation but through collective effort and shared opportunities.
He observed that women in Ekiti State have continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and leadership across sectors including education, agriculture, commerce, governance, and community development, and that their contributions remain central to the economic vitality and social stability of the state.
The aspirant highlighted that despite the challenges women face, their determination, creativity, and sense of responsibility have positioned them as key drivers of grassroots mobilisation, economic productivity, and family welfare across communities in the state.
He urged government institutions, development partners, and private organisations to continue investing in women through targeted programmes that promote education, entrepreneurship, and health support, noting that empowering women ultimately strengthens the foundations of society.
Dawodu further stressed the importance of supporting women’s mental health, explaining that emotional wellbeing is critical to enabling women to thrive and contribute effectively to community development.
He commended the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji for expanding opportunities for women through strategic appointments, empowerment initiatives, and policies aimed at promoting gender inclusion in governance.
The House Reps Hopeful noted that Ekiti has become a model for inclusive governance, with women occupying key leadership positions across the executive, legislative, and local government structures, including the office of the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Whip, Head of Service, and numerous local government chairmanships, vice-chairmanships, and councillorships.
He described the state’s policy direction as a positive turning point for women, adding that Ekiti’s approach follows the affirmative action benchmark recommended by the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and has significantly boosted the political aspirations and participation of women in leadership.
Dawodu highlighted the government’s focus on girl-child education, noting programmes such as the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, which provides safe learning environments and equips young girls with academic and leadership skills to prepare them as future leaders.
He commended the administration’s efforts at strengthening women’s economic empowerment through initiatives like the Nigeria for Women Project Scale Up, supported by the World Bank, aimed at improving the economic capacity of grassroots women via skills acquisition, financial support, and cooperative networks.
Acknowledging humanitarian interventions, Dawodu praised the First Lady, Olayemi Oyebanji, and her Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope Support (WAOH) Foundation, noting that the initiative has provided hope, economic relief, and vocational support to hundreds of widows and vulnerable women across the state.
He observed that beneficiaries of the First Lady’s pet project have received equipment including sewing machines, grinding machines, and hair dryers, enabling them to establish or expand small businesses, while scholarships and educational grants have supported orphans and children from vulnerable families.
Dawodu also commended the WAOH project’s extensive outreach, which identifies and registers widows across communities to ensure that assistance reaches those who genuinely need support, describing it as a model of targeted and effective humanitarian intervention.
He urged society to continue supporting women through mentorship, empowerment, and collaboration, reiterating that investing in women is not only an act of social responsibility but a strategic pathway to sustainable development and stronger communities assuring that he would continue to support women empowerment in every capacity.