The Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba, has charged women to embrace unity, economic empowerment, responsible leadership and mutual support as critical tools for driving sustainable development in Kogi State and Nigeria at large.
Rt. Hon. Egwaba gave the charge while delivering a goodwill message at the maiden get-together of the Women Wing of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Kogi State Chapter, held at the State House of Assembly Complex, Lokoja.
Describing women as her “first constituency,” the Deputy Speaker expressed joy at being in their midst and commended the leadership of the House of Assembly and PASAN for creating the Women Wing.
She commended the organisers for a successful maiden outing and expressed optimism that the association would record greater achievements in the future.
While noting that the gathering should go beyond social interaction, the Deputy Speaker urge women to continuously interrogate their roles as builders of homes, communities, institutions and the state.
According to her, women contribute immensely to economic growth through small-scale businesses, craftsmanship, food vending and other productive activities that strengthen society.
Hon. Egwaba also emphasized the importance of women in social development and leadership, noting that progress is best achieved when women work side by side with men as allies rather than adversaries.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Woman Leader of PASAN, Kogi State Chapter, Comrade Birikisu Ozoyiza Raji, said the establishment of the Women Wing was borne out of the need to create a platform where women in the parliamentary service could freely discuss issues affecting their well-being, development and participation in trade unionism.
Comrade Raji noted that women had, for a long time, lacked adequate space to articulate their challenges within a male-dominated environment, a situation she said had affected them politically, socially and economically.
She explained that the Women Wing, which is replicated across the 36 states of the federation, is empowered by the PASAN constitution to implement congress policies, promote women empowerment, ensure active participation of women in trade unionism, and coordinate, monitor and evaluate the union’s gender policy.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Andas Abdulmalik, described the event as historic, noting that it was the first of its kind in the history of the Kogi State House of Assembly.
He commended the women for their unity and visibility, noting that the gathering had demonstrated the strength and relevance of women within a union traditionally dominated by men.
In their goodwill messages, the National Auditor of PASAN, Alhaji Muhammed Bello; the Kogi State Chairman of PASAN, Comrade Ayodele Omotola; the immediate past Kogi State Chairman of PASAN, Comrade Salisu Ogaza; and the Secretary of Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mrs. Olorunmaiye Joan Yemisi, urged the women to sustain unity, remain proactive and continue to play active roles in advancing the objectives of the union.
The event also featured a health talk delivered by Pastor Aina Kikelomo, who emphasized the importance of regular physical exercise and the maintenance of personal hygiene among women.
