BENIN CITY – The Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has restated her commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of women and the girl-child as part of the administration’s agenda to improve the wellbeing of residents.
Mrs. Anani made the pledge during an engagement with the Edo State Chapter of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) at Government House, Benin City, where she commended the Council for partnering with government in promoting empowerment and amplifying women’s voices in society.
She assured that the Okpebholo-led administration would provide basic needs and ensure all residents benefit from governance, regardless of political affiliation or origin.
“The Governor is for everybody, not just a particular party. Our governance will cater to the needs of all citizens, whether indigenes or non-indigenes,” she said.
Highlighting the need to tackle “period poverty,” Mrs. Anani announced plans to establish a sanitary pad bank for rural girls, noting the importance of menstrual hygiene.
She said the initiative would be supported by the First Lady of the Federation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has pledged 10,000 cartons of sanitary pads for nationwide distribution.
Earlier, NCWS State Chairperson, Hon. Inumidun Idehen, praised Mrs. Anani’s dedication to women’s welfare, noting her leadership had inspired many women to strive for excellence.
She listed NCWS’s focus areas as education, vocational training, economic empowerment and social welfare, and sought collaboration with the Office of the First Lady in providing security for its outreach programmes and a bus for transportation.
