The First Lady of Ondo State, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has commended The Female Professionals’ Book Club for making history by writing about women’s experiences in Nigeria.
However, she called for greater inclusion of women in Nigeria’s political system and the end of all forms of inequality.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, represented by Mr Rowland Onyeukwu, her Senior Special Assistant (Media), stood this at the public presentation of a book titled “We Live These Lives,” organised by The Female Professionals’ Book Club (TFP) in Ibadan.
She commended the club’s founder and the 21 authors of the book who were club members, underscoring the need for gender balance and an end to inequality, citing her experience, which she fought while growing up.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu said that her experience growing up made her swear to attain whatever height her male counterparts ascend and even surpass it. It also nurtured her passion to bring many women folks with her.
“Today, that dream of mine is alive in two of my dearest initiatives, BEMORE EMPOWERED GIRLS FOUNDATION and Foundation for Wives of Ondo State Officials, (plus Female appointees) FOWOSO.
“No more inequality in the treatment of females in this nation, Nigeria. In the political arrangement, we must be accommodated. Against gender-based violence, we shall fight to a standstill.
“They claimed some professions are the preserve of male child; we disagreed and pushed forward our girls, who eventually demystified their claim, as they excelled beyond belief.
“Never again shall women take the back seat in decision-making in this nation, Nigeria. It is so clear now that no height is too high for us (females) to climb. We shall continue to soar to greater heights resiliently,” she said.
Speaking on the book, Anyanwu-Akeredolu said the authors’ chronicles should inspire thousands of young girls, now and in generations to come, to dream, aspire, and make their dreams a reality irrespective of their milieu.
“We Live These Lives” is a testimony of the triumphant exploits of her team. Till gender inequality is brought to its knees, we will remain resilient in the fight. Take a look at the achievements of women folks chronicled in this book,” she said.
Also in her address, the Chairperson at the event and Director, University of Ibadan Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun shared her experience while growing up and how she never allowed anyone to look down on her because of her gender and didn’t allow culture and beliefs rub her off who she had been destined to be.
“I think we need to have more of this book to show our younger ones that they can excel and stand out in life.
“And between yesterday and today, I have heard many stories about women; how they are suffering if they have access to books like this, they will know that they don’t have to suffer that much for them for them to make it,” Arulogun said.
Also, the unveiling of the book was done by the Director, The Vale College, Ibadan, Mrs Funsho Adegbola, who underscored the need for women to tell their stories by themselves to demystify some myths about women which were not the true representation of women folks.
The book reviewer, Mrs Olutola Daramola said the over 200 pages book had been divided into six parts and had 20 chapters that told unique and inspiring stories of women and sisterhood which had formed the basics of exploits, discovery, and development the authors enjoyed.
Daramola said the experiences penned down in the book resonate with women of all ages and will help nurture women now and in the future.
The founder of TFP, Mrs Ezinne Ibe, said the idea of writing down women’s experiences in Africa by women culminating in “We Live These Lives” came after members of the book club reviewed “Becoming” by Michelle Obama.
“It was a whole lot of work that took us two years; women across different professions across different age brackets, so you can understand the background of the book.
“I am glad we were able to tell our own story in our own way,” Ibe said.
