The Standup for Women Society International has celebrated its Y2025 annual conference and summit in style in Lagos.
Declaring the conference open on the second day-10th of September, The President of the international society-Liberator Barrister (Mrs) Deborah Ijadele Adetona advised women to take charge of their lives and never allow anyone to look down on them.
In a chat with Khal-El Media, she explained that the organisation is concerned about issues related to women as they are yet to get to their zenith in the society.
According to her, “there is poverty everywhere and we are determined to reach out to women from all walks of life regardless of their class, tribe and tongue”, she said.
“The voice of women must be heard and so, it is important for women to identify their unique potentials in order to get to their powerhouses”, she added.
According Liberator Ijadele-Adetona, the group which is in all the 36 states of Nigeria with FCT inclusive, as well as in 28 other countries in the world and still counting hope to broaden its horizons beyond its borders in five years time.
While encouraging the women not to relent in their efforts to soar higher in their respective roles as powerhouses, the international president said that the membership of the group is open to women of all ages beginning from eighteen years of age and above.
Also, the Bayelsa State Chairperson-Liberator Inaingo Tobin-West while fielding questions to the media about the group explained that they are advocating for women to believe in themselves in order to take the center stage in the world.
According to her, “women are unique people who are multi-tasking in nature. They must not feel inferior in their ability to make decisions as they are able to do anything they set their minds on”, she said.
Liberator Tobin- West further explained that: “ women are not in competition with men, but rather women complement men to make the society a better place”, she added.
She further advised those whose candles are lit, to endeavour to help others to shine by giving them a helping hand; in order to identify themselves in the society so as to soar.
Liberator Titilayo Lawal from Oyo State who spoke with Khal-El Media revealed that the conference is poised to liberate women as nothing makes sense in the world without the impact of women.
In her words, “ there is need for women to wake up to their responsibilities, know their rights in order to protect themselves from being manipulated, since what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander”, she explained.
In the same vein, the IMO State Chairperson Liberator Assumpta Nonye Ukaegbu while speaking with the media said; that the essence of the conference was to review the success the group has recorded since its inception, especially from the different perspectives of their organization as well as understanding the strength of the various states.
The Former Lagos State Chairperson of The National Association of Women Journalists and Lagos State Chairperson -Liberator Sekinat Lawal was of the view that time has come for women to come out of cocoon and manifest their potentials in their lives.
The second day gathered momentum with the hot basket demonstration made by the Ugandan Ramona Olunda from Allgreen Energy.
According to Olunda, women can use the insulated basket to make money, cook for their families and conserve energy in the process.
Olunda explained to Khal-El Media during an interview, that renewable technology which allows for a cleaner environment is poised to curb the greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels that are generated from coal and other sources- the major cause of climate change.
She noted that the carbon emissions from fossil fuels are the primary driver of global warming and the main cause of cancer in women in many countries of the world as a result of them being at the forefront of families’ liberation.
Olunda posited that the beauty of the fireless cooking basket that comes in different sizes of five, six, seven and eight liters is that, it is well insulated to keep food hot six hours after the initial cooking time.
Olunda who is championing the campaign of from “Africa to the World” revealed that one good thing about the technology is, “ the raw material is sourced from affordable bamboo plants that are grown in Africa, apart from the insulated material that is got from China and elsewhere”, she enthused.
This according to her, will give women opportunities to utilize their potentials as entrepreneurs.
On the third day of the summit, the women went to Badagry for sightseeing, as they had the opportunity of visiting various tourist sites in order to relax and bond.
The fourth day was the climax of the event with a cultural display from the diverse ethnics from Nigeria and beyond. There was also a plenary session where issues such as “women’s economic empowerment and social development” were discussed.
The keynote address on Women being elevated from their potentials to their powerhouses was given by the Deputy Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly and the state’s chapter matron-Rt. Honourable Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba.
Nwuchiola who is of the belief that women can stand out in the society when they look out for their fellow women, charged them to remain undaunted in the pursuit of their goals and aspirations, using the international president – a Barrister who went back to school to complete her secondary and university education after giving birth to her children, as an example of how women can become who they want to be, despite the teething barriers at the initial stage.
The high point of the conference was the Decoration of Zonal and States Matrons and Patrons, as well as the presentation of award plaques to the National and State Executives for their outstanding contributions to the growth of the society.
Some of the award recipients were: The Deputy Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly-Liberator Comfort Nwuchiola Egwaba, Dr. Roy from AMARoy Foundation, Liberator Victorine Macaulay from Cameroon, Alara of Ara Kingdom in Osun State, Plateau State Chairperson and North Central Matron-Liberator Grace Joseph Gora as well as the North-West Matron Liberator Hajiya Aisha Azumi Baba among others.
Others included: Liberator Juliana Ibijoke Idowu -North Central Zonal Coordinator, Liberator Uzoigwe Gloria Aaron Onyemaechi -Chairperson,Ebonyi State Chapter ; Liberator (Mrs) Mary Yisa- Matron , Niger State Chapter and Liberator Kalombo Mwewa Lauriane -Country Representative of The Democratic Republic of Congo.
The women liberators departed from Lagos to their home states on the 13th of September feeling fulfilled and with the intention of reconvening in Y2026 stronger and better.
The 5-Day Summit which was held at The Airport Hotel in Ikeja from the 9th to 13th of September with the theme: “From Potential To Powerhouse: Equipping Women To Elevate And Thrive “, was the 4th edition.
