Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) to continue its development work in the state.
Ekiti First Lady lauds UNWomen over recognition given EKSG
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, has said that she was delighted at the UN Women award given the state government, describing it as a remarkable recognition of the state government’s laudable activities in gender mainstreaming.
Speaking in Ado-Ekiti at the weekend, Erelu Fayemi said the award which was in recognition of the strong political will in the area of gender mainstreaming, will spur the state government to be more committed to gender issues.
She however said that contrary to some media reports, the award was for the state government and not to her, adding that it was only presented to her in her office.
According to Erelu Fayemi “I am delighted that the Ekiti State Government has been acknowledged by UN Women and the OSSAP SDGs for strong political will in the area of Gender Mainstreaming and Women’s Empowerment.
“The Ekiti SDGs office received the award in Abuja recently on behalf of the State Government and came to present it to me at a courtesy visit. I acknowledge all the kind words of congratulations but I would like to point out that the award went to Ekiti State and not to me as an individual.
“I am however very pleased and proud that our efforts have been recognised. This award will encourage the leadership of Ekiti State to do more in the area of Women’s Empowerment.”
The Wife of Governor also stated that efforts are being put in place for the return of the Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF) to continue its development work in the state.
Signed
Funmi Ajala
Special Assistant to the Wife of Governor
Nigeria: Bisi Fayemi And the Ekiti Development Foundation
OPINION
By Hakeem Jamiu
Hakeem Jamiu, a social analyst takes a look at the tremendous potential and exciting posibilities which the Ekiti development foundation an initiative of the activist Erelu Bisi Fayemi presents…
It is uncommon for a governor and his spouse to be activists of repute. The Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi is an activist of international repute so also is his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi. The activism of the Governor’s wife is so intense that she has always been in the news both in the local and international media. She is in the league of world female leaders such as President Ellen Sirleaf of Liberia and former South African First Lady, Mrs. Graca Mandela who have on many occasions, graced the events of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) which she headed until she resigned recently. Bisi Fayemi had received standing ovation on the floor of the General Assembly (UNO) for her efforts through the AWDF to make life better for African women. She narrowly missed the African Leadership Hunger Prize award in 2008 when she was nominated. On April 5, 2011, she was presented with the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award, one of the most prestigious Awards in the field of Philanthropy.
