By Isaac Asabor
In the bid to ensure that Edo women are not deprived of the benefits that are inherent in the Simple Agenda which Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State is poised to implement when he becomes the governor in the next political dispensation, Prof. (Mrs) Idia Ize-Iyamu, who by the Grace of God would become the First Lady, met with professional women group in the State, and assured them of adequate support, protection from abuse, and access to greater opportunities if her husband is elected as the next Governor. Against the backdrop of the foregoing progressive development, there is no denying the fact that Ize-Iyamu’s Campaign has gained traction as it unarguably zooms to Osadebey Avenue.
While meeting with the professional women, she highlighted the plans contained in the manifesto, the SIMPLE agenda, in the bid to remove barriers limiting the professional growth of women, protect them against all forms of abuse, and offer support and empowerment, as well as access to greater opportunities.
Idia Ize-Iyamu, assured the women that when she becomes the First Lady, she would continuously advocate their cause and ensure that their needs are met, especially as she is also a professional and familiar with the issues requiring improvement.
At the meeting, she emphasized the importance of group advocacy in calling attention to issues and forcing the government into action, while also advising the women to remain united and offer assistance to one another.
Ostensibly resonating her message at the meeting with the women professionals, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, who also spoke at the event, said her experience as a community nurse in health centers within the state gave her an insight into the challenges faced by women professionals. In the same vein, the Chairperson of the Professional Women Group, Dr. Tawa Idubora, thanked the incoming First Lagos and the APC Women Campaign for the visit and offered assurances that as a bloc, they will support and vote for Ize-Iyamu at the polls come September 19, 2020. Ativie criticized the incumbent administration over its reported failure to address challenges that Edolites, particularly the womenfolk, are faced with, and encouraged the women professionals to place their hope in the APC and its flag bearer for the upcoming gubernatorial election, Ize-Iyamu.
The Chairperson of the Professional Women Group, Dr. Tawa Idubora, thanked the incoming First Lady and the APC Women Campaign for the visit and offered assurances that as a bloc, they will support and vote for Ize-Iyamu come September 19, 2020 being the day slated for the election.
Against the backdrop of Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu’s assurance to the women who are all professionals, not few political observers were unanimous in their views that the manifesto which is described as “thorough and practical” is designed to train and empower Edo State women, provide infrastructure, and create gainful employment opportunities for the youths among the womenfolk.
In her appeal to the electorates, who are invariably professionals as earlier noted, to support her husband and vote for the APC on September 19, the Professor of Medicine, said that the APC candidate has a “SMART and SIMPLE” manifesto containing specific policy plans to address the socio-economic challenges confronting them as well as the people of Edo and in the same vein hindering development of the state.
In her address, Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu who is a lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Benin, said that a vote for her husband would bring about good leadership that will promote social welfare programmes for the entire Edolites.
Quoting from the manifesto, she stated that with the population of 3.2million people and a landmass of 18,000 square kilometres, Edo State is bigger by land size and population than many countries.
“Despite this status, Edo State does not have an institutionalized social welfare system to cater for the needs of our people. Ize-Iyamu will develop a comprehensive plan to make social welfare programs work for our people.
“Every resident of Edo State will be allotted a personalized life time Social Security Number. Every child born here will also have a dedicated Social Security Number. With this, his government can track the need for assistance amongst our women, children, disabled, the elderly and vulnerable members of the society”, the medical consultant added.
She further explained that the innovative system contains in the “SIMPLE AGENDA” would also assist the authorities to track the number of children going to school and those joining the labour market.
Still making reference to her husband’s manifesto, she added that each of the 192 wards in Edo State will have a social welfare officer and a team assigned to it, reporting to a coordinating office at the senatorial level that reports to the central data base at the headquarters.
She added, “Social welfare offices shall be set up in the three senatorial districts. They will be empowered by law to adjudicate on matrimonial problems and help resolve them through family counseling and mediation services.”
Given her professional background, there was unanimity among political observers that have sympathy for the APC that she stands on a better pedestal and is well positioned to change the narratives of the womenfolk in the State as she is a woman that is adequately equipped to chart her own course, blaze new trajectories while partnering with the women in the State in ensuring that they benefit from dividend of democracy which her husband is determined to provide for Edolites when elected as the governor come the next political dispensation.
As gathered, her ability is not in any way in doubt as she has a thriving career in both public and private services, which she has also balanced with sterling family life. Added to the foregoing is that she is an adoring wife and mother. A 1992 graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, she worked with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) from 1992 to 1993 and did her National Youth Service Corp, (NYSC), at the Military Hospital, Bonny Camp, Lagos, from 1993 to 1994. She also had a brief stint at the Smile Well Dental Clinic between 1994 and 1995. But the allure of the academics was so strong that she moved back to the University Of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as a lecturer in 1997 and has served in various capacities in the institution. She became an Associate Professor of Orthodontics in 2014 and is a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. She also attended the Oxford University United Kingdom on a Commonwealth Medical Fellowship in 2016. Prof. Idia is also the Pastor-in-charge of Teenage Church at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Trinity Sanctuary, Region 13, and Headquarters Parish. So, Prof Idia, an inspirational, yet, unobtrusive, supportive, albeit stern professional and human, when it comes to the wellbeing of the people, will not just be an appendage of government, she would add value as an academic, a mother, an indigene and a medical practitioner. Worthy of note in this context is that her riveting message; that the improved lives of women and girls in the state and the world at large will lead to stronger and safer economies, is proving to be transformational and catching up with the women and youth demographics. Recently, she told a gathering that women and children were the first victims of misgovernance. As such, she disclosed that that plan is in the offing to train and empower Edo State women, provide infrastructure, and create gainful employment opportunities for the youths, while noting that it was the fundamental duty of a responsible government to identify itself with the hopes and aspirations of the people.
