Women across different backgrounds and walks of life, especially those within the University communities, have been urged to always create time to mentor the youths as they strive to navigate what the future holds in stock for them.
The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, made the plea on Wednesday while delivering an anniversary lecture at the 50th founding anniversary of Queen Idia Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Queen Idia Hall is the largest female hall of residence in UI and Dr. Oyebanji was at a time the assistant hall warden of the hall.
The Ekiti First Lady, who was a guest speaker at the Alumni Personality Lecture, emphasized the need to nurture young women who are future leaders by amplifying their voices and helping them foster an environment where their diverse perspectives thrive.
“As these ladies grow in life, they need mentors and those they can look up to; I beg you, as mothers and respected women in the society who had passed through what they are passing through now, to make yourselves available for them and to be good role models to them,” She said.
The First Lady, who dwelt on the theme of the lecture, “Women Driving Change”, referred to and commended the Governor of Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for being gender-friendly by having the largest number of women occupying leadership positions in Ekiti State.
She pointed out that the action has accorded Ekiti State number one in Nigeria with the largest number of female political office holders.
She, however, commended the leadership of the hall since its inception for nurturing great minds who are already occupying leadership positions in society. To this end, she reminded the leadership of the hall of the need to also uphold the welfare of the indigent students residing in the hall.
Also speaking at the event, the wife of Oyo State Governor, Engineer Tenunominini Makinde, encouraged the residents of the hall and, by extension, the students to be agents of change and to make use of every opportunity to be good ambassadors of the University.
Earlier in her welcome address, the hall warden of Queen Idia Hall, University of Ibadan, Dr. Olufunke Ezekiel remarked that the celebration was a remarkable milestone and echoed that the challenges and opportunities of the present required the collective action to ensure that the hall remains a place where women can continue to thrive academically, socially and personally.
In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Aderonke Bayeroju, encouraged the students to strive towards excellence that the school is known for as well as allowing the school to pass through them.
He thanked the wife of the Ekiti State Governor for honouring the invite to the hall despite her busy schedule.
He, however, called on political leaders at every level and position to emulate the humility and simplicity of Ekiti State Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji, who is also an alumnus of the University.
