The Wife of the Osun State Governor, on Tuesday, launched the State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy to improve the living condition of both men and women, AMILOADED reports.
The Osun First Lady launched the Policy in commemoration of the 2022 International Women’s Day in the state on Tuesday.
Launching the Police in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Mrs Oyetola said GESI would help to “move further the gains that had been recorded from the various development efforts of our founding fathers in the state”.
She added that the Policy would also help the state to appropriate the talents of the people irrespective of either being born male or female.
She said, “The International Women’s Day is a significant day set aside by nations to bring awareness to the need for eradication of gender bias, foster gender equality and bring about better society. The focus is that nations of the world take actions that would ensure that our women, our girls do not face any form of discrimination in the appropriation of resources or decision making process leading to such.
“Since the inception of the present administration, improved attention has been devoted to the attainment of gender equity and equality in Osun.
“The administration has taken unprecedented steps to effectively integrate our women into the political and economic systems. The administration is on record on the passage and implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.
“This law takes a global view of the various biases and attacks that have for long yoked our women in the areas of health, social engagements, political participation and economic engagements. I thank Mr. Governor, the Speaker and the members of the House Assembly for this.
“Today, after putting in place the necessary legal framework, we shall take another significant step in ensuring gender equity and gender equality in Osun by launching the State Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy. This Policy would help to move further the gains that had been recorded from the various development efforts of our founding fathers in the state.
The Policy will also help the state to appropriate the talents of our people irrespective of either being born male or female. This inclusiveness would boost the development index of the state in an unprecedented manner.
“We have chosen to launch this policy today to further accentuate the determination of the present administration to make Osun a better place for men and women to live together and improve their living conditions.
This desire further informed the choice of our theme #BreakTheBias. We are in no doubt that women in Osun are as talented, industrious and willing as their male counterpart to jointly drive the plough of development in this state. This however, can only happen if we individually and collectively work together to break every form of bias against the female gender.”
The Osun First Lady added, “This is the time to break every form of bias, stereotypes and discrimination against women. If we are to evolve a state that guarantees sustainable development and better tomorrow, we must break the bias and make our women active stakeholders in political, economic and social decision-making processes. This need is no longer debatable. Countries that are making progress have taken this for granted.
“I must however speak to our women that you should not take your femineity for granted. Do not expect to be gifted governance and political participation just because you are women or female gender. Let us develop ourselves and be women of content, character and capacity. This would be unassailable assets that recommend us.
“I thank Mr. Governor for his constant support for the actualization of inclusive participation in governance at all levels in Osun. I thank him for the resolve to see that the GESI policy becomes the instrument of operation of the various ministries and departments in this state. I also thank Mr. Speaker for being here and for you commendable support for gender equity in this state,” Mrs Oyetola said.
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