Stop attributing women’s success to sexual favours —Fashola

The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs.
Abimobola Fashola, has called on Nigerians to
stop attributing the success of women to
sexual relationships with their male bosses.
She made this statement during the
celebration of the International Women's Day
on Thursday at the Police College, Ikeja,
Lagos.
She said, "This year's theme, 'Equality for
women is progress for all,' is very apt; women
should not be prevented from doing the
things that they are qualified and equipped to
do simply because they are women.
"Unfortunately when a woman rises fast to a
certain height, her proficiency in the said
field is ignored. Rather, various unpalatable
premises are brought to the fore as reasons
for her success. Nigerians should stop
alluding a woman's success to sexual
relationships with her bosses because we
don't do that to men."
She also praised the efforts of the state
government on its women-focused initiatives
and programmes, especially the dedicated
Mother and Child hospitals to help provide
women with good health services.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-
Adefulire, praised the efforts of women in
Lagos State towards impacting and improving
the society.
She said, "This celebration is significant
because it calls the attention of the global
community to the uniqueness of women.
Women are known as champions of human
rights and social justice.
"It is with great joy that I celebrate with all
women in the state. However the theme of
this year's celebration is in tandem with the
policy of the state government and its
Millennium Development Goals which
promotes gender equality and empowerment
for women."
A representative of the United Nations
Population Fund, Dr. Omolasho Omoseyi, on
behalf of its Executive Director, Dr.
Babatunde, encouraged the education of
women and girls. He said sustainable
development could be promoted more
effectively by educated women and girls.
He said, "Although great progress has been
achieved in some areas of gender equality and
women empowerment, everyday 20,000 girls
below the age of 18 give birth in developing
countries. The percentage of girls marrying
below 18 has not changed in recent years. We
have to make good on our promise to women
and girls."
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde
Fashola, who was also at the event, told the
gathering of women leaders and wives of
political office holders that Lagos was the first
state to enact laws to protect women and
children.
He said, "We have criminalised the act of a
man getting a woman pregnant without paying
child support. We have also initiated
programmes to reduce infant and maternal
mortality. In primary education, there has
been increase in the number of girls to boys,
from 59 per cent to 41 per cent.
"For our world to be more peaceful, women
must be allowed to fly. No self-respecting
man should feel intimidated and diminished
by the success of a woman."