Governors’ Wives Advocate for Enhanced Visibility and Representation in Social Development Initiatives
On Wednesday, the spouses of the 36 State Governors in Nigeria expressed their concerns regarding the lack of visibility and communication regarding their social intervention efforts, which they believe greatly complement state development programs but often go unrecognized.
This sentiment was shared during a media and leadership retreat held in Abuja.
The retreat, titled “Leading With Impact,” gathered First Ladies from all 36 states to discuss strategic communication, media engagement, and narrative development.
Speaking on behalf of her peers, Ogun State First Lady Bamidele Abiodun acknowledged their unique position at the intersection of compassion and influence as wives of elected officials. She emphasized that despite their diligent work within communities, the voices of First Ladies are frequently underrepresented or overlooked.
Abiodun encouraged her fellow First Ladies to leverage the training to reshape the narrative surrounding their roles and enhance their communication skills with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
She stated, “We each possess stories that can influence policy, shift perceptions, and inspire change, not only in our nations but across the continent.
It’s about learning to effectively share our work with the world—not just through speeches, but through strategic approaches.”
She highlighted that the roles of First Ladies extend beyond ceremonial duties, focusing on vital areas such as women’s empowerment, child welfare, and overall community well-being—often in realms where governors may have limited reach or oversight.
Abiodun stressed the importance of improving their outreach capabilities, aiming not only to communicate but to impact effectively.
In her earlier remarks, Busari underscored that while First Ladies are traditionally viewed as symbolic figures, they are increasingly pivotal in driving social interventions and advocacy across sectors such as maternal health, education, gender-based violence, and economic empowerment.
Busari lamented that these critical contributions often remain underreported or undervalued, primarily due to a lack of structured media training and public strategy support.
She affirmed, “The work they do is vital to addressing issues affecting women, children, health, and maternal mortality—areas that significantly impact our communities and often fall outside the oversight of the governors.”
“That is their role. It’s their role also to make sure that you, as members of the press and the general community, know about these things most especially the resources that people can access in their communities”, she said.
2 Comments