Sunday Concord with Azeez Fatai Adesokan: Tolu Akande-Sadipe And International Women’s Day within Nigerian Political Context, Matters Arising

Sunday Concord with Azeez Fatai Adesokan: Tolu Akande-Sadipe And International Women’s Day within Nigerian Political Context, Matters Arising.

Fellow Nigerians! Few days ago, the world marked International Women’s Day, and Nigeria was not an exception. Social media platforms were agog with warmest regard to identify with our mothers, wives, friends, associates, colleagues and sisters

While, I ( Adesokan), I am homely with the narrative as many of us agreed that, women are critical constituents in nation building but, some of us are aversed and would rather raise awareness on the fundamentals that are salient, based ,on the premise of why and how the womenfolk’s advocacy is being water-down these days.

It was all-over conventional media and e-media platforms about new trend of women advocacy tagged, #breakthebias .

I will rather suggest to womenfolk to see to the advocacy of #activateintellectualandwomenvirtues (I.e, activate Intellectual and women virtues that were hitherto given the womenfolks in Politics, Academia, Finance , Law, Architecture, Civil Service, Medicine, Insurance , Aviation International Relations and Diplomacy, Journalism, e.t.c.

Nigerian women have always been ever articulate, productive and had broken the barriers or bias since amalgamation of southern and northern protectorate of Nigeria in 1914.

Essence of importation of my narrative,”Tolu Akande-Sadipe & International Women day within Nigeria Political context: Matters Arising.

It is for the women folk in Nigeria in particular should endeavor to spend more energy in competence advocacy rather than limitations of considerable slots in politics or governance or boardrooms of multinationals as Nigerian women have the potentials as demonstrated by few among them.

More importantly, Indegeneship of women matters alot in Politics ,particularly in traditional states, Oyo state, Osun State for instance. It’s a significant normenclature for elective offices.

Ibadan or Okeogun or Ibarapa, or Oyo or Ogbomoso won’t consider a calabar woman or Igbo at the poll ahead of their own daughter or son. It’s a clear fact in traditional states unlike Lagos State or few others.

Brief about Tolu Akande-Sadipe.
She is a Nigerian woman, born on March, 29, 1966.

She is a member, Nigeria House of Representative’s ( National Assembly), Abuja, representing , Oluyole Federal Constituency, Ibadan , Oyo State.

She is Chairman, House of Representative’s Committee on Diaspora.

She is an indigene of Ibadan.

She ( Tolu), is a Daughter of the soil.

Her Father was Late Chief Mojeed Olalekan Akanbi ( Aare Ashipa- Olubadan), while her grandpa was Late Pa Lakunle Akande of Adebiompon family, Oke-Oluokun Kudeti, Ibadan and Aba Olose , Baare Community. She ( Tolu),is also related to Late Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Gbadamosi Adebimpe Royal family Odinjo, Ibadan.

Hon Tolu Akande-Sadipe is also grand-daughter to Alaafin of Oyo, Late Oba Siyanbola Onikepe Akanbi Ladigbolu.

Hon Tolu Akande-Sadipe is a 1987 product of American University, Washington DC, Bachelor of Science- Accounting.

Employed as an Accountant by Enterprises for New Direction, a communication processing company for the US 🇺🇸 President on Department of Transportation matters.

Tolu moved to district of Colombia, USA, garnered experience in both audit management consulting at
Certified Accounting Public firm, Gardiner Kamya & Associates and Tolu Akande-Sadipe was seconded to Peak Marwick ( now KPMG) between 1988 to 1992 to represent the firm on the joint public sector of the District of Columbia Government and it’s agencies.

Tolu is strategic and analytic, with a strong leadership orientation and proven success in business management with over 31years global leadership expertise in:

Policy formulation, Business Analysis, Strategy Development and Implementation, Business restructuring, Process Reegineering , Project Management and capacity Development, Accounting and Tax Management, Financial management, auditing, customer service and Human Resource management.

Her successful career has seen her add value working her way up to management level in several blue-chip institutions that, include, The Dangote group, GT Bank Plc., to name a few.

She would later become Special Adviser to Fmr., Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi on Investment Promotions & Projects.

These aforementioned prepared for leadership and emotional intelligence in discharge her legislative duties as a Federal Legislator.

She surpass many thoughts as she fit in effortlessly, as Chairman, House of Representative’s Committee on Diaspora that, was once taken to enviable height by Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa .

Lawmakers are not like executive arm of government . They are to make law’s , call attention of of authorities for their Constituency and facilitate projects through, motions and bills sponsored.

But, the women folk in Nigeria must look inward to re-inculcate concept of hardwork, mentorship & responsibility evasive in most Nigerian women today.

Nigeria collapse value system today are majorly by the political elite’s that, women has influence upon as wives and daughters.

So, when we have larger percentage of women folks that, are breaking the bias in our households, families, communities, social platforms, banking and finance, law, medicine, by ensuring their spouse’s that are political elite’s are for once submitting the deliverables to those who voted them to power. Nigeria half-problem is solved.

Late Funmilayo Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti , an Egba woman , who broke the bias and barriers when it mattered most as first woman to drive a car over 70years ago, she went further to raised Nigerian Patriot’s as his son , Late Dr Olukoye Ransome-Kuti would Later become, Nigeria Minister for Health, Afro-Beat Legend, An Activist, Fela Anikulapo Ransome-Kuti , Dr Bekolari Ransome-Kuti, also a medical doctor and pro-democracy Activist who fought for June 12 mandate & restoration of Nigeria democracy alongside Gani Fawehinmi SAN.

Prof. Mrs Bolanle Awe of University of Ibadan became the first woman Professor of History not only in Nigeria but, Africa . She broke the bias and barriers.

Prof. Mrs Grace Allele Williams, was first female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria at an enviable era, when office of Vice Chancellor was on merit not parochial, primordial, ethnical tendencies of nowadays that, has reduced nobility in the office of Vice Chancellor. She was Vice Chancellor, prestigious University of Benin.

Folake Solanke SAN, first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria broke the bias with Intellectual capability not gender consideration. When, Akeem Agbaje Esq was NBA Ibadan Chairman, I met Folake Solanke SAN at Ibadan bar dinner , Afe Babalola Bar Center , IYAGANKU GRA, Ibadan.

I took special photograph with Folake Solanke SAN, with my daughter ( Rahma), in 2017. Femi Falana SAN, was a guest lecturer that night.

Late Alhaja Humani Alaga, an Ibadan woman millionaire was extraordinary and trailblazer. So , also Late Suliat Adedeji.

Nigeria fmr., Minister for Finance later Foreign Affairs, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is today’s World Trade Organisation, WTO DG on merit not on quota system.

We should endeavor to incluate psychology of mentorship, virtues, Articulacy, competence and versatility in our today’s Nigerian women in politics not just #breakthebias advocacy.

Azeez Fatai Adesokan
Director,
Sai Rahma Foundation,
Leadership Orientation, Girl Child Education Advocacy, Youth Advocacy, and Human Right Advocacy.
96, UI- OJOO Road, Ibadan,
Oyo State.