By Stanley Onyekwere
Hajiya Lami Adamu Lau, has been elected to succeed Dr. Gloria Laraba Shoda as the National President of the National Council For Women Societies (NCWS), Nigeria, after emerging victorious as an unopposed candidate at the council’s general elections.
Hajiya Lau was declared winner of the apex seat of the council, along with other national officers, who would pilot the affairs of the council for the next five years.
Our correspondent reports that Shoda, who was the 14th National President of the council over a five-year period of July 2016 to September 2021, organised the election that produced Lau to succeed her in office, during the National convention/election of NCWS, tagged: Abuja 2022, in the nation’s capital city, last week’s Friday, witnessed a large turnout of delegates within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and from across 36 states of the federation.
According to the chairman of the Abuja 2022 electoral committee, Hajiya Ramatu Dahatu Musa, the position of the First Vice- President was keenly contested for; and was won by Geraldine Etuk, who pulled a total vote of 375, against Barr. Ebi Austin, who had a total vote of 199; however the Second National Vice president, Hajiya Binta Ibrahim, third National Vice president, Elizabeth Ani, National Secretary, Mrs Bolatito Babalola emerged unopposed respectively.
Musa added that others elected unopposed are: Assistant Secretary 1- Mrs Edna D.D. Azura, 2nd Assistant Secretary- Helen Mboto, 3rd Assistant Secretary – Mrs Nancy Aruwa; and Public Relations Officer one – Zamah Musa..
She expressed satisfaction over the performances and orderly conduct exhibited by the delegates during the elections, adding that if elections were conducted in such fashion in the country, issues of violence, thuggery and hooliganism would be a thing of the past.
While Comfort Aliya won the newsletter coordinator with a total vote of 337, Saraya Agidi got 237; Udensi Ijeoma won the national research coordinator position with a total vote of 255.
Also, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO), was won by Theresa Amoke with a total vote of 308, against Atuna Danga, who scored 160 votes; and Deborah D. Ishaya became the council’s treasurer with a vote count of 338, while her opponent had a total vote of 205
Meanwhile, Lau, while attributing her success to God and hard work over the years, expressed joy over her emergence as the council’s National President.
She pledged that her administration would strictly focus on ensuring that women in Nigeria gain their “rightful” place in government, as well as make policies geared towards assisting and proper development of the girl child.
“I have served the council for almost 31 years. It was my dream that one day I will walk on the experience I have gathered from my predecessor, so I am happy because I have achieved something in my life- an opportunity to serve Nigerian women.
“My main goal this year is to encourage the great women of the Council to make a difference by making Council members and indeed Nigerian women develop a shared sense of ownership to be able to effectively drive the NCWS purpose.
“I will like to reiterate here that I will make effective collaboration a priority, so as to create a climate of trust, facilitate positive interdependence among Council members as well as create a spirit of community among Nigerian women”, she stressed.
Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended the NCWS delegates, security agents and electorates on how peacefully they conducted themselves during the electoral exercise.
She, however, pointed that the council’s election has set a strong precedence for women leadership in Nigeria.
“The newly elected national president has served the national council for women societies from her youthful age as a girls guide affiliate, she grew up within the council.
“First, she has all the experience; she has all that it takes and she is very loyal and committed to the national council of women societies”, she said.
On her part, the founder of Adorable Foundation International, Princess Okeke Ada Anam, felicitated with the newly elected president, stressing that the exercise was a welcome development, which would enable the desired progress of women in Nigeria.
