A group in southwest Nigeria, Epe Professional Women Association (EPWA) has declared its support for female aspirants contesting for public offices in the 2019 general elections.
President of the association, Funke Moore, disclosed this at the official launching, fund raising and induction of members in Lagos on Sunday.
Moore said that gender equality has provided the opportunities for women to contest for any position and also to serve in public offices.
“Therefore, we professional women association has affirm to rally our support for any female political aspirant in Lagos state and beyond.
“It is an opportunity given to women to prove our worth in handling responsibilities outside the shore of our homes and immediate environment.
“We are professionals, we can serve and we can do it better,” she said.
According to her, the association was established on Sept. 15, 2015, with 20 members in attendance, but later metamorphosed to professionals association with over 50 members.
She said that the mission of the association was to impact positively in the lives of girls and women across the division.
“It is an association formed to provide humanitarian services to people, it is non-governmental and not for profit making.
“It is also an association established principally to uplift and better the lives of women and Girl-child from underprivileged background in Epe division in particular, and Lagos State in general,” she said.
Moore said that the association has donated various items to hospitals and health centres.
She also said that the association has carried out medical outreach in its drive to positively impact on the lives of families in remote and undeserved communities in Epe division.
Moore added that the association had provided mentoring and counselling support for young girls and women, as well as delivering meaningful opportunities for career progression through mentorship.
Chief Lanre Razak, the Balogun of Epe Land, said that women needed to be given opportunities to serve in public offices.
“They have their own innate talents and skills that they can be deployed for the betterment and development of the society.
“I hereby pledged support for any woman that aspire for public office because they have so much to offer,” he said.
Razak encouraged more women to be involved in governance and urged them to be good ambassadors of Epe division.
Earlier, Mrs Adeyemi Ikuforiji, former Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, advised the group to uphold their career objectively.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 53 members were inducted while seven personalities were given awards.
NAN
