Women across Olorunda Local Council Development Area gathered at Golden Rock Event Centre, Ilado, on Tuesday for the 2026 Women Symposium, themed “Healthy Women, Healthy Families, Thriving Communities,” where beneficiaries received empowerment items and financial support aimed at improving livelihoods and family welfare.
The programme, organised by the wife of the executive chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs. Folashade Ajose, also featured health awareness sessions, skills exhibitions, cultural performances and raffle draws as part of activities lined up for residents and participants.
Items distributed during the empowerment exercise included generating sets, deep freezers, solar fans, gas cookers, cylinders, table-top cookers, blenders, food packs for traders, and cash support for selected beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Peter Ajose, described women as the foundation of every healthy family and peaceful society, stressing the need to support them through healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
“Today’s gathering is not only a celebration of womanhood but also a strategic platform designed to promote women’s health awareness, preventive healthcare practices, and overall community well-being,” he said.
The council boss stated that the administration had continued to support women through poverty alleviation programmes and vocational training initiatives coordinated by the Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Department.
He said beneficiaries across the council had previously received hairdressing equipment, pepper milling machines, refrigerators, sewing machines and other working tools to strengthen small-scale businesses and improve living conditions.
Ajose also highlighted the role of the Skills Acquisition Centre at Ibereko, saying the facility had continued to train women and youths in vocational and entrepreneurial skills for self-reliance.
“In tandem with programmes aimed at promoting healthy women and families for thriving communities, it has become increasingly necessary to place our women on the path of economic relevance and self-sufficiency,” he said.
“The modern digital economy offers limitless opportunities capable of driving sustainable employment through innovation and digital enterprise. I therefore encourage our women, especially the younger generation, to embrace income-generating digital skills such as content creation, social media marketing, online entrepreneurship, and other emerging digital opportunities,” he added.
He also urged residents to make use of Primary Health Centres within the council for medical check-ups, maternal care, immunisation and other healthcare services, saying the administration had upgraded health facilities to improve access to care.
The chairman appealed to residents to maintain proper environmental sanitation ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, reminding them to comply with the environmental sanitation laws of Lagos State, the Centre of Excellence.
Earlier in her address, the wife of the council chairman of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs. Folashade Ajose, said the symposium was designed to encourage preventive healthcare practices while creating opportunities for women to interact, share experiences and build stronger support networks.
“It is indeed a great privilege to stand before you with gratitude to Almighty God and great pleasure that I welcome everyone to the 5th edition of Women Symposium, the first in this administration,” she said.
She noted that women had continued to play major roles in governance, business, healthcare, education and community development within the council area.
“As mothers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders, women contribute immensely to family stability and economic sustainability. Healthy women produce healthy families, and healthy families build thriving communities,” she added.
Mrs. Ajose said the administration remained committed to women’s inclusion and empowerment through programmes such as COWLSO, National Women Conference participation and vocational training initiatives at the upgraded Skills Acquisition Centre in Ibereko.
The event attracted political office holders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market women, youth representatives, community development associations, facilitators and residents from different communities within Olorunda LCDA.