28th July, 2011
President, Women Arise and Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, Hafsat Abiola and Pastor Cecilia Okachi were among the 22 awardees reccently honoured by Women Empowerment and Gender Equity Centre, WEGEC, at Rosellas Amusement Part, LASU-Iba Road, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
The programme which was tagged: “Monitoring the Future Leaders, Widows Empowerment and Merit Award” had in attendance personalities from various fields.
Dr. Odumakin, in her speech on the topic, “Monitoring Future Leaders,” spoke of how a lecturer influenced her to change her career and also some eminent personalities like late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and especially Prof. Wole Soyinka who have influenced her life respectively, saying they are all her mentors.
“The late Beko Kuti, Kudirat Abiola, Gani Fawehinmi, Fela Kuti, all affected my life but Prof. Wole Soyinka affected my life as a great mentor. Our leaders must exhibit qualities like consistency and integrity for upcoming generation (future leadaers) to emulate.â€
She dedicated her award to the late Kudirat Abiola and all other martyrs in the struggle for democracy.
Speaking at the event, the Proprietress of Simmic Group of Schools, Pastor Cecilia Okachi, said her greatest mentor in life is the first Woman Permanent Secretary in Nigeria, Mrs. Francisca Emmanuel, whom she described as an epitome of womanhood.
The president, Women Empowerment and Gender Equity Centre, WEGEC, and Vice Chairman, Mosun Okunola LCDA, Mrs. Opeyemi Akindel, said WEGEC has come together to empower women and female youths in our society through vocational skills.
Highlights of the event were the presentation of awards and empowerment items such as gridning machines, sewing machines and textile materials to widows.
In a post ceremony chat, Pastor Mike Okachi , husband to Pastor Cecilia Okachi, thanked the organisers for the event and described his wife as the pride of his life.
—Yusuf Muhammed