LAPO honours 3 women for contributing to socio-economic development

In recognition of their contributions to the socio-economic development of the society and Nigeria at large, the management of Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) has conferred its outstanding leadership award on three women in the country.

The women were rewarded for their contributions in the field of professionalism, business and public life.

They are: Adebanjo Taiwo Adefunke, the executive director of Rays of Hope Community Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Ibadan, Oyo State; Agbo Ruth Ojoma, the chief executive officer of Soul-mate Fashion Institute and the national woman leader of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) in Abuja, and Esther Ohiren, the managing director of J&J Foodstuff market in Benin-City, Edo State.

Adefunke bagged an award for her contributions to human capital development in Nigeria; Agbo was honoured for her contributions in emancipation of women in Nigeria, while Ohiren was rewarded for her contributions to economic development in Nigeria.

In his address, the founder of LAPO, Godwin Ehgiamusoe said, the outstanding women leadership award, initiated in 2013, was geared to honour women who excel in their work, performed to highest standards in business, professional and public sectors.

Other objectives of the award are to inspire and encourage future generations of women to achieve their true potentials, thereby enhancing their status in the society; provide mentors to discover the hidden potentials in Nigerian women; recognize the effective role of women and their contributions to the Nigerian society and its future growth.

Ehigiamusoe, represented by Sabina Idowu-Osehobo, the executive director of LAPO NGO, noted that Nigeria was one of the countries currently in Africa where women increasingly face challenges and discrimination merely due to their sexual make-up and negative perception strengthened by archaic traditional and cultural practices.

‘’The vulnerable conditions and marginalization of women are critical, given lingering gender inequalities, domestic violence and obvious lack of social protection. These and many more limit their ability to actualize their full potentials and enjoyment of good life. There can never be meaningful socio-economic development where women are excluded in view of their enormous contributions. Women constitute almost 50 percent of the Nigeria population and contribute significantly to the country’s socio-economic growth and development,” Ehigiamusoe said.

He said women participate actively in the formal and informal sectors, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas; yet their efforts largely remain unrecognized and unrewarded; adding that, in LAPO, they believe that there is an urgent need to address the marginalization of women, as well as acknowledge their contributions in all facets of our national life.

He said the LAPO outstanding women leadership award is one of the company’s viable programmes to achieve the laudable dream of encouraging women growth and emancipation.

The LAPO boss explained that the organization has over the years channeled its energy, efforts and resources into activities that promote gender parity; investing in programmes directed at empowering and lifting women and girls from the grips of poverty, ignorance and diseases; adding that in 2015, they improved the health status of over 200,000 community members mainly women across the country, with basic information and services, including health screening for malaria, HIV, hepatitis, blood sugar and blood pressure and referrals to governmental-approved facilities.

He also added that between January and July this year, LAPO reached out to a total of 404,681 persons with health services; 216,801 women were empowered with social empowerment services while 2, 679 people benefitted from legal aid programme.

Ehigiamusoe further explained that LAPO Agricultural and Rural Development Initiative (LARDI) supported rural farmers with a loan disbursement of N1.7 billion between January and July, 2016.