— Says his Deputy, State Chief Judge, Half of Perm Secretaries are women
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno has reiterated his commitment to ensuring gender balance in the administration of the State.
He made the promise, Tuesday in Lagos while speaking through the Deputy Governor, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi as Special Guest of Honour at the 24th Annual National Women’s Conference of the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).
Pastor Umo Eno used the occasion to commend women for their contributions to nation-building, saying they most times give excellent accounts of themselves when entrusted with responsibilities.
He said his administration was intentional about women’s inclusion and gender balance, holding the record of producing the first elected female Deputy Governor in the State.
The Governor revealed that the State Chief Judge, about half of the Permanent Secretaries in the State civil service and 50 per cent of those cleared to run in joint tickets as Chairmanship/Vice Chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming local government election are women.
“Women are soaring everywhere, shattering glass ceilings. Here in Nigeria, women are soaring and breaking previously hard concrete layers…
“My Deputy, who is representing me at this event, is the first female elected Deputy Governor in our State. Our State Executive Council contains women who are adding value to the system.
“Women constitute nearly 50 per cent of the Permanent Secretary cadre in our State and almost half of those cleared to run in joint tickets of the PDP in the forthcoming local government election. The Chief Judge of our State is a woman. Many of the Supervisors in the current Transition Committees and Councillorship candidates in our Local Government Areas are women. In terms of performance in assigned responsibilities, our women haven’t been found wanting.
“We will remain intentional about gender balance throughout the lifespan of our administration.” The Governor said.
He commended the contributions of his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Patience Umo Eno to the development of the State through her pet project, the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA) while paying glowing tributes to the wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for galvanizing wives of officials of Lagos State government for the development of their State and the nation at large.
