The Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Olapeju Babafemi, has said the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji has created a governance structure that allows women to occupy their rightful place in both appointive and elective positions across the state.
Speaking in an interview with NTA in Ado Ekiti, Babafemi 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.
According to her, women currently occupy key leadership positions across the state and local government structures, including the offices of Deputy Governor, 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.
The commissioner described 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.
She explained that the increased representation has significantly boosted the political aspirations of women and encouraged more female participation in leadership and decision making processes.
Babafemi also 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.
She 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.
According to her, the state is also working to strengthen 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.
Babafemi further commended the initiatives of the Ekiti State First Lady, Olayemi Oyebanji, particularly in the area of women empowerment and social protection. She noted that projects such as the Adire Ekiti Hub have trained and empowered thousands of women in vocational skills, while the Widows, Aged and Orphans Hope project continues to provide support for vulnerable women, widows and orphans across the state.
The commissioner also referenced recent engagements between the First Lady and civil society organisations, where discussions focused on strategies for increasing women’s participation in politics. She said beyond political engagement, platforms such as Ekiti Women in Management have continued to mentor young girls and sensitise them on leadership, integrity and responsible citizenship.
Babafemi added that the state government has been encouraging women to organise themselves into cooperative and professional groups to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing and economic advancement. She explained that her ministry maintains a strong working relationship with the Office of the First Lady and women focused civil society organisations to provide support and mentorship for aspiring female politicians.
Reflecting on the theme “Give to Gain,” the commissioner emphasised that genuine commitment to gender equality and women empowerment ultimately benefits not only women but families, communities and the nation as a whole, adding that sustained investment in women remains essential for inclusive development and social progress in Ekiti State.