LAGOS, Nigeria – As the world marks the International Day of Universal Access to Information, Lagos State on Thursday joined other 35 cities selected by the Jimmy Carter Foundation to launch the ‘Lagos City’s Inform Women, Transform Lives’ campaign, to make a difference in the lives of women in Lagos State.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center, Alausa, Ikeja, to launch the initiative, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the campaign is targeted at lifting the plight of several women in the society, especially at the grassroots in line with the THEMES+ agenda of his administration, which includes Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth Development
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the aim of the campaign is to also provide a platform for women to seek and receive information from all tiers of governments irrespective of their status, tribe and religion.
The Governor said the City of Lagos Inform Women, Transform Lives Campaign” themed: “Gender Equality and Inclusivity” would raise awareness on where and how women can easily get information about city services that would benefit them as his administration had upgraded its developmental agenda from THEMES to THEMES+.
“Two months ago, Lagos State participated in the Carter Centre competition with other 300 Cities across the globe and was among the few that got selected for the “Inform Women, Transform Lives” programme. The driving force behind our success at the competition was made possible through contributions by the Ministries of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Information and Strategy Youths and Social Development, Commerce, Cooperative, Trade and Investment as well as Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters.
“It is my absolute delight to highlight the fact that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu upgraded the agenda of his first administration’s development agenda from THEMES agenda to THEMES PLUS. The PLUS represents social inclusion, gender equality and youth engagement,” Salu-Hundeyin said.
Speaking earlier, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, who was accompanied by his Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment counterpart, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem and other state officials and stakeholders, said the inclusive campaign would be focused on information dissemination particularly to women and girls in order to transform their lives positively.
The Carter Center is a non-governmental organisation helping to improve the lives of people in more than 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy and human rights; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care.
The Carter Centre was founded in 1982 by Mr. Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and his wife, Mrs. Rosalyn Carter.
The Foundation is committed to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering.
Among the cities participating in the campaign include Atlanta, Georgia; Amman, Jordan; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Chicago, Illinois; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Dhaka North, Bangladesh; Dublin, Ireland and Guatemala City among others. They are also launching their campaigns simultaneously today in line with Carter Centre’s directive.”
