Izuchukwu OkosiLagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday morning commended the role of women in nation-building and reiterated that his government is working hard on ensuring that maternal mortality is reduced to the barest minimum.
The Governor who is seeking reelection for a second term in Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly polls was a guest of Arise TV on the Morning Show.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Independent had, on Wednesday, shifted the election from March 11 to March 18, a one-week extension.
READ: INEC Postpones Guber, State Assembly Polls By 1 Week
“It’s critical. We are a gender-friendly government. We look at women very differently,” the Lagos number one citizen began.
“Today I have commended all the women in my cabinet. I kept to the quota. Today, I have signed out letters to the Lagos Inspire Women (initiative), 250 of them.
“These are women that have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions: banking, public sector, finance, entertainment industry, the tourism industry.
“From here, I am attending a women rally, about 10,000 of them or whatever number that can fill up the stadium just to celebrate them and acknowledge them, the roles they have played. They are special. They can do several things at the same time.
READ ALSO: Naira Scarcity: Lagos To Roll Out Food, Health Relief Packages – Sanwo-Olu
Speaking on women being represented adequately in public service, the Governor emphasized that his administration has been fair in appointing distinguished women in key positions.
“If you look at our public service, we have more women as permanent secretaries, judges, and directors in public health and teaching.
On the reduction in mother and child mortality, the Governor and flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state said: “I may not be very specific but I know the numbers (of maternal mortality) are coming down and why will I say so: in the last three and half years, we’ve opened four maternal and child hospitals in Eti-osa, Epe, Badagry and Alimosho local governments, specifically for women and children.
“So that goes to speak to the fact that we’re intentional to look after them and that the number comes down.
“We’re building the biggest paediatric hospital in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa – the massive Children’s hospital. It’s still speaking to ensuring that our mothers can go to deliveries and come out.
“During the Covid (19), I gave a six-month free antenatal and post antenatal charges free for all women that walk into our public health institutions for almost six months and they did not pay a dime.
The Governor revealed that women who have not started their antenatal can receive quality treatments from established health institutions in the state.
“Even today (March 8), if you’ve not started your antenatal, you can enter our hospitals and get treatment. There are several babies popping out and we have to save them.
“These are some of the things that don’t even need my approval. They’re standing order which must be specific.
“That’s why I said I know the numbers (of maternal mortality) are coming down. I will check to ensure that we can put out those data out there.
“In terms of other specifics, what are we doing?
To be very intentional. If you look at the set up of my cabinet, and all of the various big ticket transactions that I am doing, I intentionally look for a woman.
“The company that is running all of our bridges, building our roads, which we believe we have done very well, is headed by a woman.
“All the issues around our public work that we’re doing, the main Director is a woman,” Governor Sanwo-Olu further reiterated.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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