Some of the accomplished women as guests and panelists on the show

By Funsho Arogundade

The day was significant as it both marked the Easter Sunday and also the International Women’s Day (Mothers’ Day).

In Nigeria on the said day, Olympic Milk brand hosted Nigerian women and mothers across the country to a spicy Live TV Programme. The event, which showcased the qualities of the female gender, was hosted on the Network Service of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA.

A production of Media Industries Concept, the issue-based programme recorded a huge success that had the intellectually balanced audience yearning for more.

Special guests on the programme included Mrs. Omotayo Aramide-Oduntan, Deputy Chief Whip, Lagos State House of Assembly; Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Arobieke, former Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu Local Government Area; Mrs. Abiola Laseinde, Legal Adviser, Cadbury Nig. Plc and Mrs. Yinka Ogunde, Chairperson, Women in Advertising and MD/CEO, Edumark Consults,

Also present as panelists were Mrs. Ngozi Sodeke, a breast cancer survivor and advocate; Dr. Joy Agbara, Consultant Gynecologist; Mrs. Chiadi Ndu, Counseling Psychologist and Cognitive Behaviour Therapist; Mrs. Tokunbo Tobun Agbesanwa, former SSA on Environmental Advocacy to Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola; Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Public Relations Consultant and Principal Partner, NECCI Consulting and Mrs. Adebukola Bamgboye, Principal State Counsel, Office of the Public Defender, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State.

Each of these women took turns to discuss the issues as the one-hour was divided into four packed-up segments. They all took time to dissect, demystify and break down to points, issues affecting women in their totality including Breast Cancer in Women, Violence Against Women, Women Entrepreneurs and the main topic which dwelt on, Mothers, Veritable Tools For National Development.

Speaking on the first segment which centred on Mothers, Veritable Tools For National Development, Mrs. Josephine Oluseyi-Williams who had at various times in Lagos State the Auditor-General, Accountant-General and later, Head of Service, said that women should stand forth and take positions of authority by themselves as no man would give them the space if they (the women) are not willing and ready to take the responsibilities by themselves.

She stated further that she rose to the pinnacle of her career in the civil service in Lagos State because, opportunities for her met her preparedness for them and when they came; she was ready and had to grab them and exceled on them individually.

Corroborating Oluseyi-William’s statement, Arobieke on her part said at the time when there was no woman as it were in her community willing to step out to occupy available positions, she was ready, took the challenge and broke records as the first female Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LGA with diverse developmental projects that hasn’t been met by any after her.

Arobieke said there is nothing militating against the woman-folk than they, the women themselves and with proven reports, women have done well, far better, in some of the very few positions they have occupied in the country.

Precious Eze, Managing Director, Media Industries Concept, in his remark after the show, thanked the sponsor, Olympic Milk, for standing in the gap for Nigerian women and for supporting his company in making sure that his dream to showcase women/mothers nationally came to fruition.

Eze further stated that the success recorded with this year’s edition has spurred him on to make this show a yearly programme.

The live show aired across the country and beyond was anchored by award winning broadcaster, Siju Alabi.