Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) at the weekend held its 12th edition of LAPO Outstanding Women Leadersip Award (LOWLA) as part of its activities to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day.
This year’s edition focused on the need to promote equitable distribution of socio-economic opportunities needed to engender an inclusive society for women.
LOWLA, instituted in 2013, is organized annually to honour women adjudged to have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions to societal development in both public and private sectors.
Speaking at the 12th edition of LOWLA with the theme “Advancing gender equity through economic empowerment,” the special guest of honour and first lady of Edo State, Her Excellency, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, represented by Barr. Ulor Uzamere, commended and celebrated the achievements and contributions of women generally in various fields of endeavours.
She noted that these achievements would serve as a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating the power of determination, resilience and compassion in transforming lives and communities.
Also speaking, the chairperson at the event, Prof. (Mrs) Mercy Anyiwe, advocated for the need to support women with all the socio-economic opportunities available in order to promote sustainable growth and development of the economy.
According to her, opening up access to socio-economic opportunities, which include access to education, financial opportunities and employment, will further enhance all inclusive society needed for the advancement and development of the potentials of women.
In his keynote lecture, Prof Kingsley Omoyibo emphasized the need for gender equity and noted that in the efforts to build an inclusive society, the potentials and contributions of all, irrespective of gender should be recognized.
He harped on the need to create an environment that fosters gender equity for the attainment of their potentials and goals.
According to him, achieving gender equity would engender an all-inclusive society for women through improving access to quality education and skills development, access to employment opportunities, enhancing financial opportunities and entreprenurial growth and development.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of the LAPO ecosystem, Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, reiterated the need for the effective inclusion of women who are willing and able to make contribution to national development.
He acknowledged that progress has been made in enabling women to realize their potentials but noted that a lot needs to be done.
Dr Ehigiamusoe lamented that affordable access to finance, quality productive healthcare, and political participation for women, especially rural women, is still largely a mirage, adding that “we cannot afford to exclude half of the population from the task of nation building.”
On his part, chairman, Board of Directors, LAPO Outstanding Women Achievements Awards, Dr Osarenren Emokpae, said LAPO as an organization was committed to addressing gender inequalities by harnessing the full potentials of women as leaders and economic agents of change, thereby transforming economies and generating inclusive growth.
He further stated that increasing incomes and opportunities for women meant a lot for entire communities and economies, thus advancing inclusive economic growth and contributing to the achievement of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals.
Four women were presented with awards for their outstanding achievements under different categories, including LAPO lifetime achievement award, professional, farming and business.
They are Mrs. Enoma Osar-Emokpae, Mrs. Veronica Anke Udemba, Mrs. Mary Izogie, and Mrs. Idele Ibe Dimkpa, respectively.
