A Development advocate and founder of the Adedayo Oluwasanmi Foundation, Pharmacist Adedayo Oluwasanmi, has called for sustained investment in women through education, economic empowerment, health support and mentorship as Ekiti State joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
Oluwasanmi made the call in a Press Statement issued on the International Women’s Day celebration wherein he addressed women leaders, community groups and development advocates, urging them to continue contributing meaningfully to the development of the state while encouraging greater societal commitment to supporting women across different sectors.
Speaking of the theme “Give to Gain,” the Ode Ekiti born community developer urged stakeholders from government, civil society and women’s organisations to reflect on the achievements of women in the state and the importance of expanding opportunities that enable them to thrive socially and economically.
Oluwasanmi said the theme reflects 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.
According to him, the celebration offered an opportunity for citizens of the state to reflect on the vital role women continue to play in shaping families, communities and institutions, adding that the philosophy behind the theme highlights the idea that progress is rarely achieved in isolation but through collective effort and shared opportunities
He noted that women in Ekiti State have continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation and leadership across sectors such as education, agriculture, commerce, governance and community development, explaining that their contributions remain central to the economic vitality and social stability of the state.
Oluwasanmi emphasised that despite the many challenges women face in society, their determination, creativity and sense of responsibility have enabled them to remain key drivers of grassroots mobilisation, economic productivity and family welfare across many communities in the state.
He therefore urged government institutions, development partners and private organisations to continue investing in women through targeted programmes that promote education, entrepreneurship and health support, stressing that empowering women ultimately strengthens the foundations of society.
The foundation founder also highlighted the importance of paying greater attention to women’s mental health, explaining that the emotional wellbeing of women is critical to enabling them to thrive and contribute effectively to the development of their communities.
Oluwasanmi commended the administration of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for expanding opportunities for women through strategic appointments, empowerment initiatives and policies aimed at promoting gender inclusion in governance.
He noted that the state has increasingly become a model for inclusive governance, with women occupying key leadership positions across various arms of government, including the office of the Deputy Governor currently held by Monisade Afuye, the Secretary to the State Government, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Whip, Head of Service, as well as positions in the State Executive Council, local government chairmanships, vice chairmanships and councillorship seats.
He noted that the policy direction of the present administration has placed Ekiti among leading states in Nigeria in terms of women participation in governance and public administration describing the development as a positive turning point for women in the state, stressing that Ekiti is duly following the affirmative action benchmark recommended by the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing.
Explaining that the increased representation has significantly boosted the political aspirations of women and encouraged more female participation in leadership and decision making processes, he highlighted the government’s commitment to girl child education, noting that the state has continued to prioritise programmes that promote access to quality education for girls.
He cited the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, which has created safe learning environments and opportunities for young girls to develop their academic and leadership potentials, saying that investments in education and leadership development for girls are also helping to prepare a new generation of women leaders who will contribute meaningfully to governance, economic growth and community development in the future.
He commended the state efforts towards strengthening women’s economic empowerment through the Nigeria for Women Project Scale Up supported by the World Bank. The programme, currently being piloted in three local government areas of the state, is aimed at improving the economic capacity of women at the grassroots through access to skills development, financial support and cooperative networks
According to him, the involvement of women in decision making at the executive, legislative and local government levels has strengthened governance and improved the representation of women in political leadership across the state.
Oluwasanmi added that the administration has also supported several economic empowerment programmes designed to improve the financial independence of women through cooperative initiatives, skills development and access to resources for small scale businesses.
The development advocate and grass root politician also acknowledged the humanitarian interventions of the Ekiti State First Lady, Olayemi Oyebanji, particularly through the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope Support Foundation, popularly known as the WAOH project.
He noted that the WAOH initiative has provided hope and economic relief to hundreds of widows and vulnerable women across the state through empowerment programmes, financial support and the distribution of vocational tools.
According to him, many beneficiaries have received equipment such as sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dryers and other working tools that enable them to establish or expand small businesses and provide for their families.
Oluwasanmi also highlighted the educational support programmes of the initiative, explaining that scholarships and educational grants have been provided to children from vulnerable families, including orphans whose parents could no longer support their education.
He noted that the WAOH project has also undertaken extensive outreach efforts to identify and register widows across communities in the state in order to ensure that assistance is properly targeted to those who genuinely require support.
Speaking on the work of the Adedayo Oluwasanmi Foundation, he said the organisation has continued to implement community driven empowerment programmes designed to improve the welfare of women, youths and vulnerable families across Ekiti communities.
He explained that the foundation has organised several empowerment initiatives that provided financial assistance, vocational tools and business support to market women, artisans and grassroots entrepreneurs in different parts of the state.
According to him, these programmes are aimed at strengthening the informal economy where many women operate while enabling them to expand their businesses and improve their household incomes.
Oluwasanmi further revealed that the foundation has also carried out health outreach programmes across several communities, focusing on preventive healthcare education and improved health awareness among women.
He said the health outreach initiatives emphasise maternal health education, nutrition awareness, disease prevention and routine medical checks in order to improve the wellbeing of women and families.
The foundation founder noted that bringing health awareness programmes closer to rural communities has helped many women gain access to information that enables them to make better health decisions for themselves and their children.
He added that the activities of the foundation demonstrate how community based initiatives can complement government programmes in advancing inclusive development and improving social welfare at the grassroots level.
Oluwasanmi therefore encouraged women to continue supporting one another through mentorship, cooperation and knowledge sharing, explaining that the growth and success of women in society often depend on strong networks of support.
He concluded that the philosophy behind the “Give to Gain” theme reminds society that investing in women is not simply a charitable gesture but a strategic pathway toward stronger families, stronger communities and sustainable development in Ekiti State.