Lagos Public Advice Centre advises women to be financially independent

LAGOS – The Lagos State Government has charged women to take advantage of opportunities of financially independence through various empowerment and skills acquisition programmes created.

Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, spoke during a symposium organised by the Lagos Ministry of Justice, Public Advice Centre (PAC), in commemoration of PAC Advisory Day, Y2021, held at Ikeja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the theme of the symposium was: “Women as the Heart and Soul of the Nation”. Onigbanjo said that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration had created several opportunities for women to excel in their trade and profession.

According to him, when women are empowered, they will be able to contribute to the development of a nation. “The ultimate objective of this administration is to offer our women opportunities to make them free from pressure of financial burden.

“When a woman has economic resources, she will support her husband in taking care of her children and also provide her daily basic needs.

“She will live in peace with her neighbours and enjoy better quality of life. A happy woman will certainly be willing to champion positive change in her environment.

“Lagos has provided many opportunities for women to excel at home and in their trade. All women must take advantage of the rare privilege and make life better for themselves and their households,” he said.

Onigbanjo explained that the theme of the symposium was timely considering the crisis bedeviling the nation which placed women and children at the receiving end.

The commissioner said that most complaints received by the ministry were from women who usually suffered greater emotional trauma after unfortunate occurrences in their homes and within the society.

He said : “Women are, undoubtedly, change agents in our environment. So, we are engaging them, with the hope that they will embrace harmonious living, be aware of their rights and subsequently influence their male counterparts and associates in a positive way to benefit the whole society.”

The Guest Speaker, Mrs Cecilia Bolaji – Dada, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), who was represented by Mrs Olanrewaju Lawal, Director, Finance and Accounts, WAPA, said that women are very critical to the progress of the society. According to her, they should be accorded their place.

She affirmed that the activities of women in the society have ensured the stability, growth and long- term development of nations. The commissioner added that WAPA had established 19 functional Skills Acquisition Centres across the state, where no fewer than 20 vocations were taught on a short term and long term module.

According to her, no fewer than 8,177 women across three Senatorial Districts have benefited from each economic development drive by WAPA.

Earlier, in her welcome address, Ms Khadijat Shitta-Bey, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice,  said that the symposium was aimed at magnifying the role and importance of women in nationhood. Shitta-Bey was represented by Mrs Kehinde Taiwo, Director of Commercial Law, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State.

She enjoined Lagos residents to take advantage of the various mediums put in place by the state government. Among them is  PAC, which provides free legal advice and information to members of the public and informs them of their rights and obligations under the law.

She noted that the PAC team was always available to listen to complaints while striving to resolve issues as permitted by the law.

“PAC is laden with the task of  enlightening the populace and providing information that will foster cordiality and engender peaceful and harmonious co-existence among people, particularly the residents of Lagos State.,” she said.

Also, Mr Tunji Dawodu, Director, PAC, said that the  agency had provided an avenue for residents of the State to get professional advice on issues relating to contracts, marriages, relationships and harassments among others. Dawodu explained that PAC was using the symposium to draw attention to issues relating to women and how the women folk could be given level playing field like their male counterpart.