Health
Inner Wheel Club demands more opportunities for women in leadership
Taiwo Bankole
The Inner Wheel Club District 912, Nigeria, has called on governments at all levels to create more opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in leadership and governance, saying women have demonstrated their capacity to deliver when given the opportunity.
The call was made on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the investiture ceremony of Mrs Mulikat Musa-Atinuke as the 20th District Chairman of the Inner Wheel Club of Olumo, held under the theme, “Grow and Flourish.”
Speaking at the event, Musa-Atinuke said the growing involvement of women in leadership was encouraging, noting that women had consistently demonstrated their capacity to perform whenever entrusted with positions of responsibility.
She, however, stressed that economic empowerment remained critical to increasing women’s participation and effectiveness in leadership.
According to her, economically empowered women would be better positioned to contribute meaningfully to society and less vulnerable to pressures that could expose them to corrupt practices.
“Women in leadership, I think we are not doing badly. There is awareness now, and women are coming out to lead. When you allow them to serve, they are going to deliver,” she said.
She urged governments to strengthen programmes aimed at economically empowering women, particularly petty traders and other vulnerable groups, arguing that financial independence would enable them to contribute more effectively to governance and community development.
“Give us a chance, help women to grow, and we are going to flourish,” she said.
Musa-Atinuke also outlined several humanitarian programmes planned by the club under the year’s theme, including interventions in health, education and youth empowerment, as well as support for widows and other vulnerable members of society.
She disclosed that the club planned to support bright but indigent students by paying their West African Senior School Certificate Examination fees, provide about 200 tables and chairs to schools, and donate about 200 hospital bed sheets.
The new district chairman added that the club would organise health awareness programmes focusing on issues including diabetes, cervical cancer and blood compatibility. She particularly stressed the importance of knowing one’s Rhesus factor before marriage.
She said about 1,000 people would be targeted through the club’s “Orange the World” campaign, aimed at combating violence against women and children.
According to her, the campaign would adopt a gender-inclusive approach, recognising that boys and men could also be victims of abuse and violence.
Musa-Atinuke reaffirmed the Inner Wheel Club’s commitment to serving humanity through empowerment initiatives, healthcare interventions, education and support for the less privileged.
She said the theme, “Grow and Flourish,” reflected the club’s determination to contribute to community development while helping vulnerable people achieve greater independence and dignity.
Also speaking at the event, International Inner Wheel Board Director, Karin Uwaje, said the organisation remained committed to serving humanity through interventions targeted at vulnerable members of society.
Uwaje said the organisation’s contributions included caring for the elderly, supporting less-privileged people and orphaned children, providing scholarships and donating hospital equipment.
She described Inner Wheel as “a pillar in the society,” noting that its humanitarian activities had continued to make an impact in communities.
“Our purpose and our objectives are still the same: to promote true friendship, encourage the ideals of personal service and foster international understanding,” she said.
In her keynote address titled “The Fire Within,” Justice Titilayo Bello of the Ogun State Judiciary urged women not to diminish themselves but to reclaim their inner strength and use it purposefully.
She encouraged women to learn from their experiences and embrace every stage of life, stressing that age should not prevent them from taking on responsibilities or contributing to society.
Bello said growing older should not be viewed as a tragedy but as an opportunity to gain wisdom, make better choices, mentor others and serve humanity.
“Ladies, perhaps growing older is not the tragedy we have been taught to fear. Perhaps it is a rare privilege. A privilege to know ourselves better. A privilege to choose more wisely. A privilege to stop living for applause.
“A privilege to give back to society. A privilege to mentor. A privilege to serve. A privilege to become. And perhaps the greatest privilege of all is discovering that there is still fire within us.
“So let us not merely grow older. Let us grow wiser and be more devoted to serving humanity,” she said.
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